The federal government plans to issue a catalogue of pre-approved blueprints for housing projects, including multi-residential developments.

A consultation process will begin in January, Sean Fraser, the federal housing minister, said during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday. The planned catalogue is a throwback to the post-World War II era, when the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation furnished pre-approved designs to accelerate new housing development for returning soldiers.

Many of the developed single-family homes are still inhabited today. But the blueprints offering has been modernized to cover multi-residential projects as Ottawa confronts a national housing shortage.

“We intend to take these lessons from our history books and bring them into the 21st Century,” said Fraser.

Plans call for the government to supply blueprints initially for low-rise projects, including student housing and seniors residences. Blueprints for larger projects are expected to be provided later.

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