Wellington County, ON – Wellington County Council has approved the launch of the ‘Green Development Programme’. A tri-county collaboration, the initiative has already been endorsed by Grey County Council and will be presented to Dufferin County Council in May.
Supported by a $445,000 investment from Natural Resources Canada’s Code Acceleration Fund, the Green Development Programme encourages sustainable residential development without delaying development approvals or adding regulatory requirements. Developers can voluntarily choose from 18 metrics across three areas (the natural environment, community and transportation, and the built environment) to earn Bronze, Silver, or Gold recognition for their achievements.
The programme was developed in consultation with industry, municipal staff, and partners including Urban Equation, The Planning Partnership, Georgian College, and Sustainable Waterloo Region. Work with these partners is underway to assess industry readiness and guide future training and capacity-building initiatives.
“This programme gives us a practical, collaborative way to tackle climate change challenges and growth opportunities, while supporting development innovation.” said Karen Chisholme, Sustainability and Climate Change Manager. “It’s voluntary, flexible, and designed to work with the development industry and deliver long-term benefits, like energy efficiency, for residents.”
Wellington County is forecasted to see at least 21,880 new residential units over the next 25 years. Construction already represents 12.8% of the regional workforce, positioning the three counties to benefit from growing opportunities in green building innovation and skilled trades.
For more information, visit www.wellington.ca/green-development.
Media Contact:
Karen Chrisholme, Climate Change and Sustainability Manager, 519.837.2600 x 2063, karenc@wellington.ca