This consultation was open from:
February 19, 2026
to March 21, 2026
Decision summary
A decision was made on June 5, 2026 to approve with five modifications Official Plan Amendment 4 to the County of Middlesex Official Plan, as adopted by By-law # 7390. OPA 4 updates the County's Official Plan for consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS), and to guide growth and development over a 30-year planning horizon to 2056.
Location details
Site address
399 Ridout Street North
London,
ON
N6A 2P1
Canada
Site location map
The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.
View this location on a map opens link in a new windowProponent(s)
County of Middlesex
399 Ridout Street North
London,
ON
N6A 2P1
Canada
Decision details
A decision was made on June 5, 2026 to approve with five modifications Official Plan Amendment 4 to the County of Middlesex Official Plan, adopted pursuant to sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-law # 7390. Notice of this Decision was issued to the County of Middlesex on June 5, 2026.
Official Plan Amendment 4 updates the County of Middlesex Official Plan to reflect the changes in provincial policy and legislation since the last update in 2023. OPA 4 brings the County's Official Plan into consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (PPS), and aligns it with the County's Strategic Plan to guide growth and development over a 30-year planning horizon to 2056.
OPA 4 involves updates to the following key policy areas of the County of Middlesex Official Plan:
- Growth Management - The changes provide updated population, housing, and employment projections to 2056, based on the Ministry of Finance population projections. The changes also include the provision of a policy framework to review privately initiated settlement area boundary expansion requests.
- Housing - The changes include new increased housing targets for the County of Middlesex, and updated housing policies to reflect provincial policy direction.
- Agriculture - The changes outline policies for the provision of Additional Residential Units in prime agricultural areas, implementation of an agricultural systems approach, and support for farm related businesses.
- Economy - The changes define and clarify employment areas to reflect changes to the Planning Act and PPS pertaining to employment areas, and introduce the concept of Regionally Significant Employment Areas.
- Implementation - The changes include policy language emphasizing a flexible, solutions-oriented approach to interpreting and implementing the policies within the Official Plan, guided by the PPS.
- Indigenous Engagement - The changes include enhanced Indigenous consultation and engagement policies for all planning applications.
The adopted Official Plan Amendment was reviewed for consistency with the PPS and to have regard for matters of provincial interest set out in the Planning Act.
There are five modifications to OPA 4. The modifications strengthen the policies in OPA 4 regarding cultural heritage resources, and the protection of infrastructure and transportation corridors to ensure consistency with the PPS, and algin language in the Official Plan with PPS terminology for technical accuracy.
OPA 4 applies to all lands within the County of Middlesex.
Effects of consultation
One comment was received for OPA 4. The same comment was submitted through the registry as well by email to the Ministry. The comment:
- Asserts that the growth forecast in OPA 4 for the County of Middlesex is artificially low and do not accurately reflect the population split between the County and City of London.
- Requested that the Ministry increase the population and housing projections in OPA 4 for the County of Middlesex and its lower tier municipalities to better inform future land needs.
- Requested several policy changes to the County’s Official Plan regarding the provision of servicing and housing.
The changes requested appear to go beyond the minimum requirements set out in the PPS. As such, acceptance of these changes were at the municipality’s discretion. The municipality has advised Ministry staff that it is satisfied with the growth management, housing and servicing policies currently in OPA 4.
Pursuant to subsections 17(36.5) of the Planning Act, the decision of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to approve an official plan adopted in accordance with section 17 is final and not subject to appeal.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
How to Appeal
Appeals are not allowed
Pursuant to subsections 17(36.5) of the Planning Act, the decision of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to approve an official plan adopted in accordance with section 17 is final and not subject to appeal.
Connect with us
Contact
Dellarue Howard
Exeter Road Complex 2nd Floor
659 Exeter Road
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Official Plan Amendment 4 (OPA 4) was adopted by the County of Middlesex on January 13, 2026, by By-Law No. 7390. OPA 4 addresses the changes to provincial policy since the last update of the County of Middlesex Official Plan in 2023. OPA 4 proposes to bring the county's Official Plan into consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (PPS), as well as alignment with the county's Strategic Plan, to guide growth and development over a 30-year planning horizon to 2056. The OPA is now before the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act.
OPA involves updated policies related to the following thematic areas:
- Agriculture - The proposed changes address the provision of Additional Residential Units (ARUs) within prime agricultural areas, implementation of an agricultural systems approach, surplus dwellings, inadvertent lot mergers, and policies to support farm related business.
- Growth and Development - The proposed changes incorporate a policy framework to review privately initiated requests to expand settlement area boundaries based on the new PPS (2024) requirements. Additionally, the proposed changes also provide population, housing, and employment projections to 2056, based on the Ministry of Finance projections.
- Housing - The proposed changes include expanded language and updated definitions, new housing targets, and amended policies pertaining to Additional Residential Units to reflect updated provincial direction.
- Economy - The proposed changes reflect updates to the Planning Act and the PPS pertaining to employment areas and introduce the concept of Regionally Significant Employment Areas.
- Indigenous Engagement - The proposed changes included enhanced Indigenous consultation and engagement policies for all planning applications.
- Implementation - The proposed changes include policy language emphasizing a flexible, solutions-oriented approach to interpreting and implementing policies in its Official Plan, guided by the PPS.
If approved, OPA 4 will apply to all the lands within the County of Middlesex administrative boundary.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from February 19, 2026
to March 21, 2026
Connect with us
Contact
Dellarue Howard
Exeter Road Complex 2nd Floor
659 Exeter Road
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
1By email
1By mail
0