Surrey council gives thumbs up to KPU housing project
Published 10:31 pm Monday, July 27, 2026
Surrey city council gave third-reading approval on July 27 to a proposal to develop an eight-storey student housing building for Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Newton.
The project will contain 201 units with 359 beds all told, as well as a cafeteria and dining hall, at 12666 72 Avenue. It will be Surrey’s first on-campus student housing project and will require 61 parking spaces, with rent would be offered at least 10 per cent below market rates.
Chani Joseph, KPU’s director of planning, development and sustainability, told council the $144 million project will expand access to affordable student housing in Surrey.
“It addresses the need for safe, secure and affordable housing for students attending KPU. This project will support students’ success, belonging and well-being,” she said. “Living on campus will help students stay connected to their studies, peers and support services.”
“KPU is prioritizing access for Indigenous students, students with disabilities, lower income students, former youth in care and other students who face barriers to housing,” Joseph said. “This project is being built with support from the Province of B.C.”
Councillor Pardeep Kooner remarked that the project is “much needed.”
“There’re a lot of students out there within our city; there’s a lot of young people in our city so anything that we can do to help make their lives easier, including student housing is very important.”