A New Alliance for a Better Way Forward: Launching the Building Relocation and Deconstruction Association of BC
On June 2, 2025, we joined over 100 decision makers, builders, policymakers, and advocates at the inaugural Home Demolition Prevention Forum in New Westminster, BC to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing our region: the unnecessary demolition of thousands of quality homes across British Columbia.
At this pivotal event, we formally launched a new alliance: Building Relocation and Deconstruction Association of British Columbia (BRDA).
Formed by leaders in relocation and deconstruction, including Renewal Development, BRDA’s mission is clear: to educate, enable, and advocate for responsible removal practices across the construction sector.
Every year, more than 2,700 single-family homes are demolished across Metro Vancouver alone. As provincial densification policies expand, that number is projected to grow by 35% over the next decade. Much of this material ends up in landfills - despite the fact that a significant percentage of these homes could be either relocated or carefully deconstructed for reuse.
“We want to make sure that we look at all avenues when knocking down homes to make way for new developments,” says BRDA Director and former Vancouver City Councillor Michael Wiebe. “This new organization is urging all governments to pay attention to the environmental costs of throwing away perfectly good homes and building materials.”
This is the moment for a different approach. One that views homes not as debris, but as valuable assets - offering solutions for housing affordability, climate resilience, and circular economic growth.
“When industry leaders and policy makers work together we can save more good homes from the landfill by relocating them to non-urban communities in need of good, cost effective, climate resilient housing,” says BRDA Director Glyn Lewis, CEO of Renewal Development. “The responsibility lies with all of us to do the right thing and balance producing more homes without a cost to the environment.”
BRDA provides a shared voice for companies and communities committed to reducing demolition waste and maximizing the life cycle of the built environment. It will serve as a central resource for municipalities, developers, and homeowners seeking a more responsible path forward - and help drive the policies needed to support it.
The forum also included the launch of an updated Municipal Action Plan - a 7-point policy framework to guide cities and districts toward adopting early removal permits, refundable demolition deposits, and other incentives that promote relocation and deconstruction.
Watch the entire forum here:
For Renewal Development, this work is deeply aligned with our mission to rescue, modernize, and relocate quality homes and to build a more sustainable, equitable future from what already exists.
We’re honoured to be part of BRDA’s founding chapter.
Learn more about the association at www.brdabc.ca