Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is sponsoring a buildingSMART Canada (bSC) research project to streamline the development approvals process and reduce the time it takes to get housing projects underway.
“The current development approvals process is fragmented and outdated with cumbersome review procedures at the municipal level which acts as a bottleneck and hampers the ability of builders to deliver the housing we need,” RESCON president Richard Lyall said. “It is critical that we standardize and make the system more effective so information can be easily shared to get projects approved quickly and efficiently.
“This will help to lower construction costs for the consumer.”
The research project – Streamlining Development Approvals: A Review of Processes, Requirements, Metrics and Opportunities – will be led by David Amborski, professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Work will focus on creating a better understanding of the processes and key metrics within the development approval space and their impact on land use. Many authorities have jurisdiction on a given application and each has requirements to be fulfilled. The idea is to identify and measure key metrics so authorities can make adjustments to streamline these processes.
Researchers will also examine how land use policy, development, real estate trends and demographics are intrinsically linked. The data collected may enable development of an AI-enabled real estate visual analytics platform that can lead to better decisions on land supply, use and valuation.
Lyall says the research is in line with RESCON’s efforts to work towards achieving greater transparency and consistency within the development approval process.
“We are presently in the grips of a perfect storm that is dramatically affecting our housing supply,” he said. “To reach the provincial target of building 1.5 million homes in 10 years, it is paramount that we significantly transform the development approvals process.
“RESCON is eager to see the development approvals process transformed to enable the faster build of much-needed housing. This research project will give us valuable insight into how we can make that happen.”
RESCON is also becoming a strategic member of bSC, a non-profit organization that advocates for the use of open and interoperable standards and brings together key stakeholders to advance the digital transformation of the built environment.
“Through these partnerships, we are breaking down research silos and accelerating progress,” says bSC executive director Claudia Cozzitorto. “RESCON’s industry expertise in residential construction and strong commitment to driving meaningful change make them an invaluable partner for this research project.”
AECO Innovation Lab and bSC recently partnered with researchers at five Canadian universities on a $1.32-million research project that will investigate how BIM and digital twins can be leveraged by Canadian regulatory agencies to allow for better, more informed decision making with respect to development approvals, asset and facility management, and municipal planning and operations.