Edmonton's Fastest-Growing Neighbourhoods: Where the Building Permits Are

Edmonton is Canada's fastest-growing metro area. The CMA grew 3.1% in the past year, adding over 100,000 people in two years. In 2025, Edmonton set a record with 21,337 housing starts — the highest ever recorded — and issued building permits for over 17,500 new homes.

But growth isn't happening evenly. Some neighbourhoods added 800+ housing units in a single year. Others barely moved. We pulled the actual building permit data from Edmonton's Open Data Portal to show you exactly where the city is growing — and what it means for your move.

The Numbers — Top Neighbourhoods by New Housing Units (2024–2025)

These are the neighbourhoods with the most new housing units permitted. The data comes directly from the City of Edmonton Open Data Portal.

2024 leaders:

Secord (west): 873 units — Led all of Edmonton in 2024.

The Orchards at Ellerslie (southeast): 833 units — A southeast powerhouse.

Clareview Town Centre (northeast): 794 units — Large apartment projects drove this.

Keswick (southwest): 709 units

Griesbach (north): 660 units

The Uplands (west/Riverview): 515 units

Rosenthal (west): 507 units

Glenridding Ravine (southwest): 493 units

Chappelle (southwest): 468 units

Edgemont (west): 462 units

2025 leaders:

Malmo Plains (south): 744 units — Surprise infill leader.

Hays Ridge Area (south): 653 units

Alces/Decoteau (southeast): 632 units — The next frontier.

Keswick (southwest): 600 units — Consistent two-year performer.

Rosenthal (west): 558 units

Griesbach (north): 502 units

The Uplands (west): 447 units

Heritage Valley Town Centre (south): 418 units — Jumped from 118 in 2024.

Aster (southeast): 388 units

Edgemont (west): 387 units

A key shift in 2025: apartments became the number one source of new housing units (5,401) for the first time, surpassing single-family homes (4,189). Row houses also surged to 5,322 units.

Source: City of Edmonton Open Data Portal, General Building Permits dataset

The Southwest Corridor — Where Most of Edmonton's Growth Is Happening

Over 75% of all new dwelling permits in 2024 were issued for areas between 41st Avenue SW and Anthony Henday Drive. This corridor includes Heritage Valley, Keswick, Chappelle, Glenridding, Cavanagh, and The Uplands.

Heritage Valley

The largest growth area in south Edmonton. Heritage Valley encompasses about 15 sub-neighbourhoods including Allard, Callaghan, Cavanagh, Chappelle, Desrochers, Graydon Hill, Hays Ridge, and Heritage Valley Town Centre. Planned full build-out population: approximately 99,000 people.

Chappelle alone has received over 3,400 building permits — more than almost any other neighbourhood in Edmonton. It went from 151 residents in 2012 to nearly 4,800 by 2019.

New homes range from townhomes in the high $300,000s to single-family detached from $450,000 to $800,000+.

New schools are being built to serve Hays Ridge, Chappelle, Paisley, and Graydon Hill. Heritage Valley Town Centre is developing as the area's commercial hub.

Moving logistics: New construction, wide streets, flat terrain, easy truck access. Most homes have attached garages and ground-level entry. Ongoing construction on nearby lots means some roads may be unpaved or partially finished. Our crews rate this area as low difficulty.

Keswick / Glenridding

Keswick ranks second among all Edmonton neighbourhoods with about 3,000 total building permits. In 2024 alone, Keswick added 709 units; in 2025, another 600.

New builds range from rear-laned homes starting around $430,000 to front-attached garage homes from the mid-$500,000s. Townhomes start in the $300,000s. Multiple builders active: Rohit, Sterling, Gill Built, Coventry, Pacesetter.

Schools opened recently: Joan Carr Catholic Elementary/Junior High and Joey Moss School.

Moving logistics: Similar to Heritage Valley — new construction, wide streets, easy moves. Some areas still under active development. Low difficulty.

The West — Secord, Rosenthal, and Edgemont

The west end is booming. Secord led ALL of Edmonton in 2024 with 873 new units. Rosenthal added 507 in 2024 and 558 in 2025. Edgemont added 462 and 387 respectively.

Home prices in the west are more accessible than the southwest: duplexes and laned homes start from the $300,000s, with front-attached garage homes from the mid-$500,000s.

The biggest thing coming: the Lewis Farms Community Recreation Centre, a $310.6 million facility under construction on Rosenthal Way. Learn more about the Lewis Farms Recreation Centre. When it opens (expected 2028), it will have a twin arena, 50-metre aquatics facility, fitness centre, double gym, multipurpose space, and a library. This will be a game-changer for west Edmonton.

Rosenthal features over 5 km of multi-use walking trails, a spray park, and a mini BMX track. Secord has wetlands, treestands, ponds, and walking trails.

Moving logistics: Quick access to Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive. Newer construction with wide layouts. Low difficulty.

The Southeast — Decoteau, The Orchards, and Aster

Southeast Edmonton is emerging as a significant growth corridor. The Orchards at Ellerslie added 833 units in 2024. Alces (in the Decoteau area) jumped from 410 units in 2024 to 632 in 2025. Aster grew from 229 to 388 units.

The Decoteau area is Edmonton's next frontier — five planned neighbourhoods (Alces, Decoteau, Kettle Lakes, Meltwater, Snowberry) with a planned build-out population of approximately 68,000 people. Construction started after the Area Structure Plan was approved in 2015 and is scheduled through 2039.

Moving logistics: These are newer communities with standard suburban layouts. Good access from Anthony Henday Drive. Meadows Recreation Centre is already operational nearby. Low difficulty.

The Northeast — Affordable Growth

Northeast Edmonton offers the most affordable new-build options in the city. Average detached homes in the northeast cost about $442,000 — roughly $200,000 less than the southwest ($647,000).

Crystallina Nera East grew from 216 units in 2024 to 362 in 2025. Canon Ridge added 282 units in 2025. The Pilot Sound district (Cy Becker, McConachie, Matt Berry, Brintnell, Hollick-Kenyon) continues to develop steadily.

The Edmonton Energy and Technology Park is a major employment driver attracting residents to the north side. Horse Hill, with a planned full build-out population of 71,467, is just beginning development — Qualico's Marquis community launched there in 2025.

What attracts people: Affordable new builds, family-oriented community design with parks, playgrounds, and schools within walking distance. Prices: duplexes and townhomes from the mid-$200,000s; single-family detached from the low $400,000s.

Trade-off: Further from established amenities and commercial infrastructure compared to southwest communities. Transit connectivity is improving but still developing.

Moving logistics: New construction, flat terrain, wide streets. Easy moves. Low difficulty.

Master-Planned Communities Worth Watching

Griesbach (Former CFB Edmonton)

One of Edmonton's most consistent growth stories: 660 units in 2024 and 502 in 2025. This 620-acre community on the former Canadian Forces Base is designed as an urban village with narrower grid streets, tree-lined boulevards, and integrated commercial areas.

Population grew from 3,752 in 2014 to 4,714 in 2016 (24.6% growth in two years). Designed for 13,000 at full build-out. Condos and townhomes start over $200,000; single-family homes from the low $400,000s to just under $1 million.

Unique feature: Military heritage throughout — streets named after battles, peacekeepers, and Victoria Cross winners. Patricia Park has PPCLI memorials and a Bailey Bridge pedestrian crossing.

A new phase of 355 residential units was announced in November 2025, with at least 40% below market rates.

Blatchford (Former City Centre Airport)

Edmonton's most ambitious redevelopment: 536 acres in the heart of the city, targeting 30,000 residents at full build-out by 2042. Nearly 400 homes are completed or under construction. No natural gas is permitted — the entire community runs on a district geothermal energy system with 570 boreholes drilled 150 metres underground.

Townhomes start around $530,000. Solar panels, air-source heat pumps, and triple-paned windows are standard. First apartment building is under construction, and six additional 4-to-6-storey buildings are signed or underway.

The Infill Story — Mature Neighbourhoods Are Changing Too

Edmonton's 2024 zoning bylaw renewal now allows up to 8 units on any residential lot. The impact has been dramatic. In 2025, for the first time ever, more homes were permitted in 5-to-8-unit buildings than in single-family homes. Mature neighbourhoods nearly matched greenfield development for new units.

Top infill neighbourhoods by units added in 2025:

• McKernan: 376 units

• Windsor Park: 242 units

• Glenora: 221 units

• Jasper Park: 197 units

• Strathcona: 194 units

• Garneau: 189 units

• Bonnie Doon: 156 units

• Blatchford Area: 131 units

• King Edward Park: 124 units

30% of all homes permitted in 2025 were within 800 metres of an LRT station — a record, and a direct result of transit-oriented development along the Valley Line.

Source: Jacob Dawang's analysis of Edmonton building permit data

Moving logistics note: Infill moves in mature neighbourhoods like McKernan, Garneau, and Strathcona are typically more challenging than suburban moves. Narrower streets, limited parking, walk-up units, and older homes with tight staircases all add time. Our crews rate inner-city infill moves as moderate to high difficulty.

What This Means for Your Move

Three practical takeaways:

First, if you're moving to a new community, expect active construction on nearby lots. Roads may be partially finished. Your neighbours may still be building. This is normal in growing areas — it just means you should confirm truck access with your mover in advance.

Second, new communities often lack amenities at first. Grocery stores, restaurants, and recreation facilities lag behind residential construction by 2–5 years. Heritage Valley Town Centre, Lewis Farms Recreation Centre (2028), and new school openings are closing this gap.

Third, the southwest is the premium corridor (prices reflect it), but the northeast and west offer comparable new-build quality at $150,000–$200,000 less. If your budget matters more than your postal code, look east and west.

For moving costs by home size, see our Edmonton cost guide. For neighbourhood safety data, see our EPS crime data guide. For the full Edmonton experience, visit our Edmonton location page. Ready to plan your move? Get a free quote.