A Regional Airport for South Surrey? What the Campbell Heights Proposal Could Mean for Real Estate

A Regional Airport for South Surrey? What the Campbell Heights Proposal Could Mean for Real Estate

A conversation is quietly gaining momentum that could reshape the long-term story of South Surrey real estate. On March 18, 2026, the executive director of the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce raised the idea of a regional airport in Campbell Heights directly with BC Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth, asking what it would take to get a regional airport built in the area. The idea is early-stage and faces real jurisdictional hurdles since airports fall under federal government authority. But the fact that it is being raised publicly, at the ministerial level, is worth paying attention to.

As someone who works and lives in this market every day, here is an honest breakdown of what this proposal means, why it matters, and what it does not mean yet.

What We Know About the Proposal

The pitch was made by Scott Wheatley, executive director of the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce, at a transportation-focused event at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel. Wheatley framed the request around economic development, citing the potential to attract industries like film studios to the area. Minister Farnworth acknowledged the idea and noted that airports fall under federal jurisdiction, signaling that any progress would require federal engagement.

This is early-stage advocacy, not a committed project. There is no environmental assessment, no federal application, and no confirmed funding. What it represents is organized business community pressure for infrastructure investment in the South Fraser region, which is itself a meaningful signal.

Why Infrastructure Announcements Move Real Estate Markets

History is consistent on this point: major infrastructure commitments drive real estate value in the surrounding area before a single shovel enters the ground. The SkyTrain extension into Surrey and the announcements surrounding highway upgrades in Langley both preceded measurable price appreciation in nearby neighbourhoods.

A regional airport in Campbell Heights, if it moves from proposal to planning to construction, would represent a fundamental upgrade to the economic profile of South Surrey. It would reduce travel friction for business users, attract employers who rely on air access, and put South Surrey on the map as a regional economic hub rather than a residential suburb of Metro Vancouver.

According to CMHC research on urban infrastructure and housing demand, communities that gain major transportation infrastructure typically see accelerated population growth, which in turn drives housing demand. The mechanism is straightforward: employers follow access, workers follow employers, and housing demand follows workers.

What This Means for Current Property Owners in South Surrey

If you own property in South Surrey today, this proposal is a reason to pay attention, not to act impulsively. The value of infrastructure announcements is captured over years, not weeks. Properties in the Campbell Heights corridor and nearby industrial and commercial nodes in South Surrey's eastern edge would likely see the earliest and most direct impact.

Residential properties in Grandview Heights, Hazelmere, and along the 32nd Avenue corridor could benefit from increased employment density and economic activity in the region, which tends to support prices and rental demand over time.

What This Means for Buyers Considering South Surrey

If you are considering buying in South Surrey, this proposal is one of several indicators that point to the area's long-term trajectory being strong. The region already benefits from proximity to the US border at Peace Arch, strong highway access via the 99 and 91, and one of the most desirable residential environments in Metro Vancouver. A regional airport would be additive to a story that already has solid fundamentals.

That said, buying based on an unconfirmed infrastructure proposal carries risk. The right approach is to identify properties that make sense on their own merits today, with the infrastructure potential as a tailwind rather than the primary thesis.

How to Think About This as an Investment

Smart real estate investment in the Fraser Valley has always been about identifying areas where multiple value drivers are converging. South Surrey already has population growth, infrastructure investment from the City of Surrey, and demand from buyers priced out of Metro Vancouver. A regional airport would add another layer to that convergence.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board tracks market data across all of these sub-markets, and current trends in South Surrey already reflect strong fundamentals independent of any airport proposal.

The Bottom Line

This is a developing story worth watching. If you want to understand how this proposal might affect your specific property or buying plans in South Surrey, let's have that conversation with actual numbers attached. Reach out at tylerwaldron.ca or call 778-222-6975.

Real estate decisions should not be made on headlines alone, but ignoring meaningful local developments is how you miss the bigger picture. This one is worth tracking.