Growth Management
All Niagara Region projects

About the Project

Niagara is growing, and proper management of this growth will impact quality of life in the region. To manage future growth, we're creating a new Niagara Official Plan. The plan is a long-range, policy planning document to shape Niagara’s physical, economic and social development.

The new Niagara Official Plan will be informed by inter-related background studies relating to growth management, and rural and natural systems.

This project supports the Council Strategic Plan.

Background Studies

Growth management background studies include the:

• Land needs assessment

  A land needs assessment determines how much land is needed to accommodate forecasted residential and employment growth to 2051. In Sept. 2020, a report was prepared for the Planning and Economic Development Committee which outlines the status of the land needs assessment and the related impact of Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the new Land Needs Assessment Methodology.

  • Report - Growth Plan Forecasts: Land Needs Assessment and Settlement Area Boundary Review Process
  • Report - Niagara Official Plan: Land Needs Assessment and Settlement Area Boundary Review Update
• Regional structure

  The Regional structure will identify and describe strategic areas to direct growth and development that are best served by a combination of transportation, transit and community infrastructure / services. In Sept. 2020, a report was prepared for the Planning and Economic Development Committee which outlines the status of the Regional Structure Strategy.

  • Report - Regional Structure background
• Housing strategy

  A housing strategy will help to promote an appropriate range and mix of housing types. This will provide choice, aging-in-place opportunities and affordability.

  • Report - Niagara Housing Statement: Affordable Housing
  • Report - Niagara Housing Statement Final Summary
  • Phase 1 Niagara Region Housing Market Analysis
  • Report - Growth Scenario Analysis for the Regional Housing Strategy
  • Phase 2 Niagara Region Growth Scenario Analysis
• Employment policy paper

  In 2018, we started our Employment Area Strategy with consultants MHBC Planning and urbanMetrics in collaboration with local municipalities and stakeholders. The strategy recognizes and maps clusters of existing and designated industrial and manufacturing uses in Niagara.

  In May 2020, the Employment Area Strategy advanced to the Planning and Economic Development Committee for endorsement, but was deferred to allow for more public consultation and to address changing economic trends.

  • Report - Niagara Region's Employment Area Strategy: Background Report and Recommendations

  The Region updated its employment policy work plan to include more public consultation during the summer and fall of 2020.

Project Timeline