UBC’s community and its physical environment are shaped by land use policies, plans and guidelines. These documents provide the roadmap for the development of academic buildings, student housing, neighbourhood housing, recreation facilities, child care centres, and other services, along with commercial spaces and outdoor spaces.
Our policies and plans look out for the long-term interests of the university, our community and the environment. They outline where, how much, and what type of buildings, outdoor spaces and transportation the university will provide.
Our policies and plans look out for the long-term interests of the university, our community and the environment. They outline where, how much, and what type of buildings, outdoor spaces and transportation the university will provide.
UBC Quick Facts
- UBC has a daytime population of around 80,000 including 55,000 students and over 15,000 jobs
- UBC is the 3rd largest employment destination in the Lower Mainland (after Downtown and Broadway Corridor)
- More than 55% of people arrive to UBC via sustainable transportation (bus, bike, walk)
- UBC has more student housing than any other university in Canada, with nearly 12,000 beds, and plans for hitting a total of 17,300 student beds by 2030.
- A further 12,500 people live in UBC’s neighbourhoods
- UBC is one of the largest providers of rental housing units in B.C.
- UBC has nearly 700 below-market rental housing units reserved for full-time faculty and staff, and is one of the world’s first universities to offer rent-geared-to-income housing to staff.
- UBC is the largest campus-based child care provider in North America, and continues to be the largest provider of infant/toddler child care in Vancouver
Our Place in the Region
UBC located on the western edge of Metro Vancouver and is situated on the traditional territory of the Musqueam people. The university is an important education, economic and innovation driver for the Lower Mainland and British Columbia. Our success is intertwined with the region’s.
Regional challenges, such as availability of affordable housing, rapid transit expansion and sustainable infrastructure have a big impact on UBC’s community. Our plans and policies are the mechanism for playing our part in addressing these issues.
Our policies and plans align with Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy. They also align with international, national, provincial and other regional plans and policies and best practice.