City Council approves amendments to The London Plan supporting the creation of new housing opportunities

Yesterday, City Council approved amendments to The London Plan that will allow greater heights, higher density, mixed-use and more connected development to be permitted in London. These changes will help London meet critical housing needs and create a more sustainable and vibrant city in the future.

Summary of approved amendments:

• Change the place type for the lands along Richmond Street and Western Road from rapid transit corridor to urban corridor
• Reclassify portions of Richmond Street, Western Road, and Clarence Street from rapid transit boulevard to civic boulevard and neighbourhood connector
• Designate Dundas Street and Kellogg Lane as a transit village place type. Existing transit villages are at Oxford Street and Wonderland Road, White Oaks Mall, Oxford Street and Highbury Avenue, and Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street.
• Increase the maximum height of apartment buildings downtown to 45 storeys, up from 35 storeys
• Increase the maximum height of apartments in transit villages to 35 storeys, up from 22 storeys
• Increase the maximum height of apartment buildings in urban corridors to 15 storeys, up from 10 storeys 
• Allow 15 storeys in major shopping area place types
• Increase the maximum height of apartment buildings in main street place types to 8 storeys, up from six storeys 
• Increase the maximum height on neighbourhood connector streets to four storeys, up from three storeys - allow four-storey stacked townhouses on neighbourhood connector streets

Londoners can find the classification of their street using the street classification map. 

City Council’s approval of these amendments highlights the commitment to accelerating housing supply and taking necessary steps to facilitate London’s housing pledge target of 47,000 new homes by 2031. These changes will increase certainty and opportunities for new dwellings and decrease processes and timelines to accelerate the pace that housing is built.

“These amendments are consistent with provincial polices and reflect London’s commitment to sustainable and strategic growth,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “This is about addressing our current housing crisis and ensuring that we can meet the housing and infrastructure needs of our current and future residents.” Essentially, these changes outline permitted uses; it does not mean this will happen everywhere. Every application will still go through the planning application process. These changes were being permitted in many recent applications, this will just allow it to happen without having to apply for Official Plan or Zoning By-law amendments on a per project basis.”  

“We are updating the Official Plan to set clear rules that make sure new high-density buildings follow our main goals and future plans to provide more housing,“ says Scott Mathers, Deputy City Manager, Planning & Economic Development. “This work builds on the strong foundation of our Official Plan and focuses on our goal to prioritize growing within the city and building upward. By concentrating on higher-density development and filling in key areas, we aim to create a lively and thriving city. These zoning changes represent the most significant increase in high-density zoning in over 35 years, further supporting this vision.”

The amendments approved by Council are part of a number of important initiatives the City of London is undertaking that will support the creation of new housing opportunities across the city. Learn more at london.ca/morehomes.

These amendments will be submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Following the standard 120-day review and approval period, they are expected to be in in force and effect.