Growth Forecast and Land Need Analysis

January 27. 2026

The final draft of the County and Area Municipal Growth Analysis and Land Needs Assessment is before Oxford County Council on January 28, 2026.

Download the agenda

The final study report is the result of extensive consultation with area municipalities and interested parties (landowners, development industry, consultants, agricultural groups, etc.). It provides updated information to address provincial requirements and inform growth management policies, master plans, secondary plans, servicing studies, and other municipal initiatives.

Further studies will be undertaken in the future to implement the study’s findings, such as secondary plans/settlement area boundary reviews; an urban structure study of fully serviced settlement areas in all area municipalities; and a review of appropriate locations for rural dry industrial uses in the rural municipalities.

For questions please contact Meghan House, Senior Policy Planner, at mhouse@oxfordcounty.ca

See Project updates

October 9, 2025

Consultation regarding the Draft Growth Analysis and Land Needs Assessment has commenced

An information package (updated September 10, 2025) outlining the draft findings of the Growth Analysis and Land Needs Assessment is now available. The purpose of the Land Needs Assessment is to analyze the existing land supply, including the assessment of the potential for intensification within the existing built-up area, and determine whether more land is needed within settlement areas to accommodate forecasted growth.

Interested parties, including agricultural groups and members of the development and real estate industries, will be consulted directly. Area municipal councils will be provided with information and the opportunity to comment prior to the final draft report being considered by County Council in Fall 2025.

Questions and comments can be submitted through this webpage or by email to Meghan House mhouse@oxfordcounty.ca

December 3, 2024

County Council received draft population, household and employment forecasts and municipal growth allocations on November 13, 2024.

The next steps in the project are to analyze the existing land supply, including the assessment of the potential for intensification within the existing built-up area, and determine whether more land is needed to accommodate growth. Oxford County will also further consult with local area municipal councils and the public on findings from the study.

More information

• Council Report CP 2024-323) | Attachment 1 | Attachment 2
• Council meeting minutes | Video recording of Council meeting

July 30, 2024

Oxford County is currently undertaking a study to update the growth forecasts and land needs for the County and its eight area municipalities for the next 30 years.

The study findings will support a review of the County’s strategic growth areas and inform any potential need to expand the existing urban areas and rural settlement boundaries. It will also inform a range of County projects and initiatives, such as Official Plan amendments and infrastructure master planning.

Background

Community Planning has retained Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., with Dillon Consulting, to undertake this study, which is expected to be completed in early 2025. This study, also known as a Comprehensive Review (Phase 1), is expected to provide the County with the following information:

• updated population, household and employment projections for the County and each of the eight area municipalities for a 40-year forecast period (2021-2061);
• the share (allocation) of the forecasted population, household and employment growth that is anticipated to be accommodated within the urban areas and serviced villages in each of the eight municipalities over the forecast period;
• updated land needs analysis, which will include an updated land supply inventory and an assessment of residential intensification potential in priority areas.

The study will build upon and update the findings of Phase 1 – Comprehensive Review – Oxford County, completed by Hemson Consulting Ltd. in 2020.

Steps in the PHASE 1 - Comprehensive Review

Have your say

More information about the Phase 1 Municipal Comprehensive Review project, including opportunities for comments and feedback from the public, will be available and posted on this page soon. Oxford County is currently reaching out to local area municipalities and other partners for feedback.