Stratford expected to grow to over 50K over next 30 years – does the city have what its residents need?

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

According to a lands need assessment done by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., Stratford’s population is expected to grow to 52,900 residents by 2056, an increase of about 15,800 people.

While Watson’s report indicates there is enough residential land to meet the growing housing demands the Festival City will face, it doesn’t have enough commercial or industrial land to accommodate the wave of jobs expected to flow through.

Employment is forecasted to grow by about 8,300 jobs between 2026 and 2056, with growth occurring across all sectors. There will be a significant need for additional non-residential land, according to the assessment: approximately 29 gross developable hectares of additional commercial and/or institutional land and approximately 91 gross developable hectares of additional employment area land to support future industrial growth.

The assessment was done as part of the City of Stratford’s ongoing Official Plan (OP) review, the guiding document which informs the city’s planning and land use. It was presented at the Sept. 14 Stratford city council meeting, the last of five papers meant to inform the public and council ahead of the OP’s eventual presentation at a future meeting.

To view the whole report from Watson, see the agenda of the meeting, which can be found at https://tinyurl.com/y7bvhtx5.