What if tearing down old houses wasn’t the only way forward for developers? In an industry often driven by speed and simplicity, one Vancouver-based company is changing the narrative around demolition and construction waste—by literally moving homes instead of destroying them.

We sat down with Glyn Lewis, founder of Renewal Development, to talk about how moving homes is transforming sustainable development and housing affordability in BC.

You can listen to the full episode on the SiteVisit podcast here.

Glyn started the company with the mission of saving and repurposing homes that still have a lot of life left in them. What began as a passion project quickly evolved into a streamlined business model that delivers immense value to developers, municipalities, and communities in need of affordable housing.

A New Model for Development: Move, Don’t Demolish

The process typically begins with a land assembly—often 10 or more single-family homes acquired by a developer to clear the way for multifamily construction. Of those, they identify homes that are structurally sound and worth saving. But rather than merely acting as a mover, his team handles everything—from abatement and permitting to tree removal and logistics planning.

“I realized developers don’t want the headache of multiple contractors. They want things simple and efficient. So I brought everything in-house,” Glyn explains.

From the developer’s perspective, there’s no difference in workflow or timing whether the house is demoed or moved. Renewal simply gets the job done.

Building a Marketplace for Homes That Deserve a Second Life

Once suitable homes are selected, Renewal lists them on a dedicated marketplace. People searching for housing in communities like Alert Bay or the Sunshine Coast can browse available homes—well-built, often mid-century bungalows—and have them transported and placed on a prepared lot.

This is where the second arm of Renewal’s business comes in: the transportation and installation of the home. Renewal handles route planning, permitting, transportation, and even prep work at the destination.

“It’s logistically challenging, but that’s our job—to internalize those complexities so no one else has to,” Glyn says.

Not Just Moved—Upgraded

The third component of Renewal’s offering kicks in once the home is delivered. Acting as a general contractor, the team oversees necessary upgrades to ensure each house is energy-efficient and livable by today’s standards. That could mean replacing single-pane windows with double, insulating attics, or converting gas furnaces to heat pumps.

A standout example? Renewal recently partnered with West Group and the shíshálh Nation to relocate 10 homes from Port Moody to the Sunshine Coast.

The Complexity of House Moving: More Than Just Logistics

House moving is far from a simple task. It involves much more than just transporting a structure from one place to another. It requires careful planning, precise coordination, and specialized equipment. Glyn explained that the ideal house for relocation isn’t just one that is structurally sound—it must also be in a location that allows for safe transportation. Tight, tree-lined streets, narrow roads, and city infrastructure challenges, like the trolley lines in Vancouver, all play a role in determining whether a home can be moved successfully. For example, Vancouver’s unique trolley system adds another layer of complexity, as homes must be carefully maneuvered to avoid interfering with the overhead lines.

The intricacies involved in these moves require expert knowledge and skill. In some cases, entire roofs are “hinged” and lifted to allow clearance for power lines, a process that demonstrates the ingenuity required to navigate these obstacles.

A Sustainable, Affordable Solution

Cost is a big driver of interest in home relocation. While prices vary by location, moving a home is often 40–60% more affordable than building new or opting for modular construction. For regions with high new-build costs—like Bowen Island—this can mean hundreds of thousands in savings.

And the environmental impact? Dramatic. Every home moved instead of demolished represents a major reduction in landfill waste and carbon emissions.

“Saving these homes isn’t just about nostalgia,” Glenn says. “It’s about sustainability. It’s about being smarter with what we already have.”

Addressing Housing Shortages and Environmental Concerns

With an increasing number of single-family homes being demolished to make way for new, higher-density buildings, there is a growing demand for solutions that can help mitigate the environmental impact of these demolitions. In the last decade, over 30,000 homes in Metro Vancouver alone have been torn down, a trend expected to accelerate as cities continue to upzone areas for greater density. This trend poses both an environmental and a social challenge, as homes—often in good condition—are lost to the landfill.

Repurposing homes through relocation offers a solution to this problem. Glenn believes that moving homes is not just about saving old houses—it’s about contributing to a broader movement of sustainable development. By relocating homes to non-urban communities, where land is more affordable and development opportunities are plentiful, it is possible to provide low-carbon housing options that help meet the growing demand for affordable homes.

The potential to relocate 200 or 300 homes annually could make a significant dent in the housing shortage while also addressing the environmental impact of demolitions.

Looking Ahead: Regulatory Support and Broader Adoption

Cities like Victoria are already incentivizing deconstruction over demolition, offering refunds on deposits for developers who meet certain reuse and recycling targets. It’s a sign that policy is beginning to align with initiatives like Renewal’s, which could unlock even more opportunities for circular building practices in urban areas.

Glyn is optimistic about the future of his company and the industry as a whole. The potential for further growth is vast, especially as the demand for housing continues to rise and the environmental costs of new construction become more apparent.

A Larger Mission: Reshaping Communities and Building a Legacy

At the heart of Glyn’s work is a sense of purpose that goes beyond profit. He views Renewal not just as a company, but as a movement—a campaign disguised as a business. The mission is clear: to inspire change in how we think about housing, community development, and sustainability.

By moving homes and repurposing them for new communities, Glyn hopes to inspire others to think differently about the way we build and develop our cities. In a world increasingly focused on environmental sustainability and the challenges of urbanization, house relocation offers a tangible solution to some of the most pressing issues of our time.

“Hope is contagious,” Glyn says. By combining business with a deeper sense of purpose, Renewal is not just moving houses—it’s moving the needle toward a more sustainable and thoughtful way of building our communities. And in the process, they’re laying the foundation for a future where the past is not forgotten, but repurposed to meet the needs of tomorrow.