Natural Heritage System (Complete)

As the first amendment planned for the Northumberland Next Official Plan update, Northumberland County developed a Natural Heritage System Plan to manage community growth in a way that preserves and enhances our natural environment for future generations.

The NHS report was originally finalized based on multiple rounds of public consultations that took place between 2018-2020, and was endorsed by County Council in July 2020. However, the Province of Ontario announced a new ‘Provincial Planning Statement, 2024’ in October 2024, which required us to update our Natural Heritage System to reflect changes to land use planning legislation.

What is a Natural Heritage System?

The Natural Heritage System includes areas such as wetlands, woodlands and watercourses that have been identified as significant natural features that we must protect and enhance.

The Natural Heritage System Plan will result in updates to the Northumberland County Official Plan policies, including:

  • Establishing a new Natural Heritage Area designation that will apply to properties with natural heritage features
  • Identification of natural heritage features and areas, as well as supporting features and areas that would be subject to development prohibitions and/or restrictions
  • Introduction of new policies affecting development and site alteration in and adjacent to the Natural Heritage System
  • Updates to the requirements for environmental studies

Public consultation process

The project team completed a comprehensive consultation process during the development of this amendment from 2018 until 2020. To see a full list of consultation activities completed, please see the project timeline section below.

On July 22, 2020, County Council adopted the Natural Heritage System amendment that was developed based on this public input. However, in October 2014, the new ‘Provincial Planning Statement, 2024’ came into effect, requiring updates to the amendment to align with new direction from the Province for land use planning. These updates included:

  • Removal of the Growth Plan: The Province has repealed the Greater Golden Horseshoe "GGH" Growth Plan, which was originally incorporated into our NHS. Updates will need to be made to the amendment to remove the repealed designations and policies.
  • Redesignation of areas while maintaining total spatial area: Some areas that were originally incorporated as ‘GGH Growth Plan Areas’ in the NHS will need to be re-designated; however, these areas are proposed to remain part of the Northumberland NHS. Our proposed updates recommend the spatial area remains the same as originally adopted by County Council in 2021.
  • Changes to land use requirements in redesignated areas: Changes to area designations may affect requirements related to the location where development and site alteration can be permitted in these areas, and under what conditions. For example, a development that was previously prohibited in significant woodlands may now be considered, if it demonstrates no negative impact to the woodlot.

The proposed changes were presented and discussed at a public meeting on December 4, 2024. Community members were invited to review the documents outlining the proposed changes, attend the meeting to share their feedback, or submit feedback and questions by email.

After reviewing the feedback received during these consultations, the project team prepared final recommendations for the Natural Heritage System amendment. These recommendations were presented to the Economic Development, Tourism and Land Use Planning Committee for consideration on January 8, 2025. A summary of the final recommendations is available in the Committee meeting agenda and in the 'Documents' tab on the Northumberland Next project page. Following this presentation, County Council endorsed the recommended modifications in the report and supplemental memo and directed staff to submit the changes to the Province for approval.

The amendment was approved by the Province and came into effect on February 19, 2026.

Project timelines

Current stage

February 2026

  • Approved by the Province and in effect as of February 19, 2026.

Project history

November 2018 - first round of public consultations

  • Northumberland County Headquarters, Cobourg - November 26, 2018
  • Cramahe Township Municipal Office, Colborne - November 28, 2018
  • Clock Tower Cultural Centre, Campbellford - November 29, 2018

November/December 2019 - second round of public consultations

  • Cramahe Township Municipal Office, Colborne - November 21, 2019
  • Northumberland County Headquarters, Cobourg - December 2, 2019
  • Clock Tower Cultural Centre, Campbellford - December 3, 2019

January/February 2020

  • Interactive map and online form for gathering public input

July 2020

  • Completed final report

Spring/Summer 2020

  • Presented the preferred Natural Heritage System option to Northumberland County Council on July 22, 2020

March 2021

  • Initiated update and arranged for a public meeting to incorporate the preferred Natural Heritage System mapping and policies into the County Official Plan update

December 2021

  • County Council adopted the Natural Heritage System amendment and the amendment was sent to the Province for approval

October 2024

December 2024

  • Updated the Natural Heritage System mapping and policies to align with ‘Provincial Planning Statement, 2024’.
  • Presented proposed updates to the Economic Development, Tourism, & Land Use Planning Committee and collected feedback from the community.

January 2025

  • Presented the updated amendment for Council adoption.
  • Sent the final amendment to the Province for consideration.
  • Province approved amendment.

Supporting documents

Share Natural Heritage System (Complete) on Facebook Share Natural Heritage System (Complete) on Twitter Share Natural Heritage System (Complete) on Linkedin Email Natural Heritage System (Complete) link