Northumberland Next: Official Plan Update

We are updating the Northumberland County Official Plan to guide growth and development in Northumberland over the next 30 years. These updates align with Provincial legislation that requires municipalities to review and update their Official Plan every few years.

Current Provincial forecasts indicate that the population for Northumberland County will grow to 122,000 people and 44,000 jobs by the year 2051. As part of the Official Plan update, we will be reviewing the maps and policies in the current Official Plan, and will undertake a series of amendments to update the Plan to ensure that the County and its member municipalities are prepared for the forecasted growth.

About Northumberland Next

Our vision: To manage growth for a complete and thriving Northumberland over the next 30 years.

The public engagement objectives for Northumberland Next are to:

1. Inform residents of the process for updating the Northumberland County Official Plan
2. Gather public input on land use planning priorities for Northumberland County as we plan for future growth and development
3. Gather resident and stakeholder feedback about topics for review in the County's Official Plan

Consultation launched in the fall of 2018 with public meetings about the first amendment planned as part of this process: the Natural Heritage System amendment. On October 28, 2020, the County hosted a virtual public meeting to provide an overview of the overall Northumberland Next process.

Topics under review

(Completed)(Current Consultation)
(Current Consultation)

Coming soon

• Water Resource mapping and policies
• Affordable housing policies

Consultations

The updated Official Plan is being developed in consultation with the local area municipalities and community partners, and through consultation with the public, including public meetings and online input through Join In Northumberland. Opportunities for public engagement are ongoing, and will continue throughout 2022.

Currently, we are seeking feedback on:

• Agricultural mapping
  • We will be hosting in-person open houses in Campbellford, Colborne and Port Hope in June and July 2022 to review the proposed mapping and policy updates and to gather input from the community. For more information about this amendment, visit our Agricultural Mapping page.
• Growth Management
  • We hosted a virtual open house and virtual public meeting in April/May 2022 to review the proposed changes and gather input. If you were unable to attend those sessions, you can review our Growth Management Report online and provide feedback by email. For more information about this amendment, visit our Growth Management page.

Stay in the loop

• Join our email distribution list for updates about the project and opportunities to provide your feedback. Click 'subscribe' under the 'Stay Informed' box.
• Attend our upcoming consultations for more information and to provide your feedback on the topics for review.