CUR's senior researchers provided feedback on the Durham Region's housing needs forecast for 2021 to 2051, a key input into the Region's land needs assessment. We are sharing our submission with you. 

We have two criticisms of the staff-recommended housing needs forecast by type of dwelling:

• While the 2021-2051 household growth forecast out to 2051 is identical to that produced by Hemson Consulting, total housing needs are understated by approximately 10%. In our view, total housing needs should be 240,000 households over the 30 years to account for past housing shortages, rather than the staff-recommended 219,630; and
• The forecast significantly overstates the need for high-density housing and understates the need for low-density housing. As a result, the Region will need more designated greenfield land than the staff forecast predicts.

Deliberately over-planning for high-density housing at the expense of low-density housing will make it impossible for the Region to achieve its 2051 population target and exacerbate the Region's growing housing affordability problem.

Read our full submission here