As part of a plan to address local housing needs, the Town of Saugeen Shores has launched its new Ready-to-Build Housing Designs program.
Officially received by Council on June 16, the initiative aims to simplify the home-building process, expand housing options, and enhance affordability throughout the growing lakeside community.
“The Ready-to-Build Housing Designs demonstrate the Town's commitment to providing practical and affordable housing solutions,” said Mayor Luke Charbonneau. “By offering free designs that are already compliant with local regulations, the initiative makes it cheaper and easier to build good-looking, low-cost homes in Saugeen Shores.”
The program features six pre-approved designs: three Additional Residential Units (ARUs), including an accessible option, and three low-rise multi-unit models — a duplex, a triplex, and a fourplex. The designs were created by Invizij Architects in collaboration with Tim Welch Consulting and carefully tailored to complement the character and charm of Saugeen Shores’ existing neighbourhoods.
Charbonneau said the free, pre-approved home designs are designed to streamline residential construction and increase affordable housing options.
"Just getting free designs alone is a reduced cost," he added. "If we can go even further on this front and reduce the cost, and get rid of that stamping cost, the engineering costs, whatever other costs there are. If we can find a way to back these particular designs up with further incentives that make it lower the barriers, even further, lower the costs, or speed it up even more, we should do that."
The initiative is funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and Bruce Power’s SEED Funding program. It represents one of eight strategic initiatives in the Town’s broader HAF plan to accelerate the development of diverse and attainable housing.
Details and a full design catalogue will be available soon on the Town’s official website.
Saugeen Shores' long-term strategy is expected to help meet the demand for housing while preserving the community’s welcoming, small-town atmosphere.