More than 4,000 homes needed in Bruce County over next decade: Report

Homes under construction in Port Elgin, Ont. in November 2023. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)

A housing report presented to Bruce County Council Thursday sets some ambitious construction goals for the growing region.

The report says Bruce County will need to have 4,040 homes built over the next decade to help meet expected population and employment growth.

While most of those homes will likely be single family homes, the report suggests 28 per cent of them be deeply affordable or affordable to have the right mix of housing.

“The housing targets give us the chance to plan ahead, not just for today, but for the families who will call Bruce County home tomorrow. These targets demonstrate the need to work closely with private developers and non-profit organizations to increase the range of housing options across the County,” explained Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau.

The population and employment growth will be almost entirely driven by Bruce Power. The nuclear power plant is amid a 13-year, $13 billion project to refurbish six of their eight reactors.

They are also looking very intently to build four or five more reactors at their sprawling Bruce County property, located north of Kincardine.

While most of the home construction will be focused on Kincardine and Port Elgin, as they are the closest communities to Bruce Power, the report suggests the need to expand housing options further inland and throughout the entire county.