Inside Durham’s 2024 Regional Official Plan: A Road map for Real Estate Growth and Strategic Land Sales
With a bold new Official Plan in place, Durham Region is charting a future of innovation, density, and sustainable growth. Whether you're a landowner considering your next move or an investor seeking ground-floor opportunities, Durham offers the rare combination of vision, velocity, and value.
The recently published Regional Official Plan reveals a powerful growth story—one where the opportunity is real, and the time to act is now. Let’s break down why now is the time to invest.
We Bridge the Gap Between Landowners and Investors
As land specialists, we understand both sides of the equation.
Landowners want fair value and a smooth exit strategy
Investors want scalable projects with growth upside
Municipalities need complete communities — and the planning framework is already underway
Our job is to align everyone’s interests and bring real opportunities to life. Contact us to see how we can help
What Makes Durham a Strategic Bet?
Durham isn’t just growing—it’s planning to double in population and employment by 2051. The region is positioning itself as a key economic and residential hub within the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This means real opportunities for those holding land near urban boundaries or those looking to bring projects to life in a high-demand market.
Key strengths:
Projected population: 1.3 million by 2051
Projected employment: 460,000 jobs by 2051
Expanding transit corridors, including GO Rail extensions
Planned Pickering Airport set to unlock a wave of employment lands and logistics infrastructure
Multiple Strategic Growth Areas, each backed by transit, services, and high-density zoning
A firm commitment to building complete, connected, climate-resilient communities
Durham is no longer just the next step from the GTA — it’s a regional anchor for long-term prosperity.
Key Metrics
This isn’t a vague growth story—it’s backed by numbers and plans. The Region’s Official Plan maps out clear targets that investors and landowners can use to guide decisions.
1.3M residents and 460K jobs by 2051
Minimum 50% intensification target across the region
Household growth of over 225,000 new units needed by 2051
New employment zones tied to infrastructure upgrades (especially near Pickering and Bowmanville)
High-density residential nodes prioritized near Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs)
25–35% of new housing stock required to be affordable, creating development incentives and density bonuses
This scale of growth means Durham must expand its urban boundaries, unlock strategic parcels, and work with private developers to deliver results.
Policy – What’s Coming Down the Pipeline?
The 2024 Durham ROP is a developer’s blueprint for the next 30 years. With strong alignment to provincial goals (including the Growth Plan and Provincial Policy Statement), Durham is committing to:
A complete community framework — balancing housing, jobs, transportation, and services
Expansion of Regional Transit and Goods Movement Networks
Prioritizing employment lands with municipal servicing to stay investment-ready
Pushing for the Pickering Airport development and surrounding logistics/industrial hub
A diversified economy with support for agri-food, energy tech, tourism, and innovation corridors
Tools like inclusionary zoning, development incentives, and targeted investment zones to support smart growth
Durham is effectively rolling out the red carpet for developers and investors who can deliver thoughtfully planned projects.
The Bottom Line
Durham Region is no longer just on the map — it is the map for growth, opportunity, and forward-thinking development. As the rest of the GTA tightens on space, policy, and pricing, Durham offers:
Land with growth potential
Policy support for intensification and expansion
Massive infrastructure projects (transit, roads, airport)
Demand for new housing and employment lands
A region-wide commitment to sustainability and smart planning
Is Your Land the Key to Durham’s Next Boom?
Whether you're buying, selling, or just exploring your options — we're here to help you make the most of your land.
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