Some people like to see modest growth in cities, while others fully realize that larger centres bring in more jobs. The flip side is that a municipality needs the infrastructure for more people -- bus routes, roads and sewers.
Just down a 6-lane highway from Woodstock, the city of London is expanding. There's already been an announcement that a 401 cloverleaf will be created at Wonderland Road. As you know, currently you have to leave the 401 in a Y-exit at the 402 to reach Wonderland. This new industrial triangle could be a boom for the Forest City.
I'm someone who believes that a boom for London is a boom for Woodstock. At the same time, great news for Woodstock (Nova Steel, Sysco) is also great news for London and all points in southern Ontario.
London is also planning for a possible population increase to as high as 500,000, (Currently about 380,000) but not until a projected date of 2041.
Here's ther London Free Press piece:
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City’s numbers expected to swell to 500,000 by 2041
By Chip Martin, The London Free Press
Monday, October 15, 2012
LONDON -- Homebuilders should be happy. And toy shops and pediatricians.
Seems Londoners are doing their bit for population growth.
City council’s planning committee was told Monday increasing birth rates and other demographic tweaks will keep demand strong for single family housing up to 2041 when the city’s population is expected to reach nearly 500,000.
Peter Norman, of Altus Group Economic Consulting, predicted “a big rise in the number of families with children” in that time frame with a strong demand for single family housing.
Other demographics will be the increase in the number of Londoners in their 30s and 40s and aged 65 and greater.
The population and employment forecasts were adopted even though they were half what Mayor Joe Fontana and others on council said they wanted back in June.
The consultants included a 2% projection, but said nearly three times the annual increase of 2,330 jobs would be need to achieve that. Planning staff recommended the 0.91% Altus projections which will be used to guide city decisions on planning and servicing.
Norman said the new projection is an increase from the sluggish 0.7% growth rate of recent years.
He warned, however, international economic problems could produce growth rates less than currently projected.
“Over the period 2011 to 2041, a total of 57,115 new households are expected in the city of London,” the Altus report found. “The expectation is for the construction of some 61,100 new dwellings.”
And that means low density, primarily single family and semi-detached housing, will account for about 53% of all housing, while medium and high-density housing is expected to stand at 16% and 31% respectively.
A natural increase in births in excess of deaths by 24,000 and net inflow of about 108,500 migrants will propel population growth that falls far behind the peaks seen in the 1980s.
Fontana said he was pleased the consultants took into account the 2% scenario council is promoting.
Email: Chip.Martin@sunmedia.ca
Looking to buy or sell in Woodstock or London, call:
Mark Schadenberg
Royal LePage Triland
(519) 537-1553
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