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Simcoe County advances Housing Faster project with new planning toolkit

July 23, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The County of Simcoe is taking a significant step to support accelerated delivery of affordable and attainable housing with the release of its Housing Faster Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) Toolkit.

The toolkit includes three key resources designed to help local municipalities streamline development approvals through a simpler, easier-to-understand system that gets shovels in the ground faster.

The toolkit supports the implementation of a Community Planning Permit System.

The system uses a Community Planning Permit By-Law template, a Community Planning Permit System Official Plan Amendment template, and an Implementation Guide.

The Housing Faster project stems from the county’s Housing Attainable Supply Action Plan, which was endorsed in 2024, and identifies the need for more efficient planning processes to increase housing supply.

This is an innovative land-use planning tool that combines zoning by-law amendments, minor variances, and site plan approvals into one streamlined process.

By reducing complexity and approval timelines, municipalities can help deliver housing more quickly while maintaining consistent planning standards.

Developed in collaboration with local municipal planners and in consultation with development industry stakeholders, indigenous communities and the public, the CPPS Toolkit is specifically designed to unlock opportunities for “missing middle” housing, including duplexes, triplexes, and other low- to medium-density multi-unit buildings that bridge the gap between single-detached homes and larger apartment developments.

Looking ahead, the county will continue to work with local municipal partners to explore new opportunities to support implementation and build communities that are both more affordable and more enjoyable to live in.

By setting the stage for faster approvals and encouraging a broader mix of housing types, the Housing Faster CPPS Toolkit is the latest example of the County taking action to help communities build up a region that is more affordable.

For more details, please visit simcoe.ca/services/planning/attainable-supply-action-plan.

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