British Columbians may soon find it easier to access affordable homes as the Province accelerates new building innovations and reports a continued decline in asking rents. A newly launched online platform, known as DASH—Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing—is designed to streamline the construction of three- to six-storey buildings by using standardized, prefabricated components manufactured in B.C.
The Province says DASH offers a faster, lower-cost approach by integrating design, zoning reviews, and prefabricated construction into one digital system. Builders can input lot details, select building features, and receive a 3D design optimized for the site within minutes. The platform then links those plans to B.C. manufacturers able to supply the required components.
According to Rentals.ca’s November 2025 report, B.C. has seen the largest rent drop in Canada, with asking prices down 9.6% over two years and nearly 6% in the past year. Vancouver rents have fallen to a 43-month low, while Surrey has seen double-digit decreases for one-bedroom units. Provincial officials point to strong rental construction, anti-speculation measures, and permitting improvements as key contributors.
DASH supports that momentum by cutting months off typical planning timelines and helping builders take advantage of modern methods like mass timber and off-site manufacturing. The Province is also working with municipalities to digitize permitting and adopt new rules that allow more housing types, including duplexes, triplexes, and row homes.
The platform is open source, free to use, and part of the Homes for People Plan, which now includes more than 93,600 homes delivered or underway since 2017.
To explore the DASH platform, visit: https://www.acceleratedhousing.ca/
Comments