Chatham-Kent council received a peek into the crystal ball on Monday night and was provided with an idea how the municipality will grow and develop over the next 25 years.
Council adopted the 2023 Municipal Comprehensive Review Report prepared by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. The report provided 25-year growth forecasts, as well as a land supply and land needs analysis. The report examined future population and employment growth potential and corresponding urban land needs for the future.
After a decade of negative growth prior to 2016, Chatham-Kent’s population and employment base has experienced a modest increase. These trends are anticipated to continue, with Chatham-Kent’s population is forecast to reach a population of 120,600 by 2041 and 122,200 by 2051.
Jamie Cook of Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. told councillors that population in Chatham-Kent bottomed out in 2015, but since that time population growth rate has rebounded and looking at migration trends and building permit activity it looks like the growth will continue over the near term.