Surrey: Newly Approved South Westminster Neighbourhood Plan Envisions Transit Village Near Scott Road SkyTrain

On March 10, 2025, Surrey City Council endorsed new land use designations for the South Westminster Neighbourhood Concept Plan (NCP). The plan specifies the creation of a Transit Village near the Scott Road SkyTrain station. The Transit Village will include designated areas for housing and retail, as well as areas reserved for mixed employment and industrial uses. 

Background

The South Westminster NCP was originally approved in 2003 and has since undergone several revisions. In 2022, Surrey City Council authorized staff to update the plan to better reflect current market conditions and development challenges, including issues such as flood plain risk, geotechnical considerations, and fragmented property ownership. The updated plan now incorporates transit-oriented development principles to support both the Scott Road SkyTrain station and the new R6 RapidBus corridor.

Vision for the Transit Village

At the latest Regular Council meeting, Surrey’s leadership confirmed the vision for a Transit Village that integrates housing, retail, and mixed employment spaces within the proximity of the Scott Road SkyTrain station. 

The plan also sets the stage for a forthcoming feasibility study to explore the potential of a new Waterfront District, aimed at creating a distinctive gateway into the city.

Broader Context and Future Developments

The Transit Village initiative is one part of Surrey’s broader strategy to revitalize South Westminster—a plan that has been evolving since its original approval in 2003 and was updated as recently as 2022. The city has expressed its commitment to aligning the new plan with current market conditions and addressing challenges such as flood risk, geotechnical issues, and fragmented property ownership.The Transit Village initiative brings renewed focus to the Scott Road corridor. The introduction of transit-oriented development principles in South Westminster has the potential to create a more pedestrian-friendly, high-demand environment, similar to other successful TOD projects in Metro Vancouver. For example, Keystone Architecture’s Scott Road Transit Village project, while not affiliated with the South Westminster Plan, features a design for a small commercial redevelopment initiative that reflects a broader trend towards transit-oriented development in the region.

For ongoing updates and further details regarding the planning process for South Westminster, the City of Surrey maintains a dedicated planning page.