A recent public open house regarding a major housing development was well attended in North Huron.
The public was invited to the North Huron Wescast Community Centre on Saturday, February 22 to hear a presentation on a new subdivision coming to Wingham, and they packed the room.
North Huron Reeve Bernie Bailey said the plan to service 450 new lots in Wingham will begin later this year.
"The first phase is going to involve building 45 houses within the next year, but as the developer said, he's hearing there's room for more development, and if contractors want to step forward, they're more than willing to develop the entire 140 or so houses next year if needed."
The project is being done by SZAM Capital Partners, who will service land totalling over 90 acres next to Maitland River Elementary School in Wingham. Reeve Bailey says getting affordable and available housing in the municipality is crucial to keep local industry alive.
"This is truly exciting for North Huron, especially the Wingham ward, because we have a real problem with a shortage of labour for our factories and our stores. We could take on 100 new employees at any given time right now, but we have no place to put them, no house to put them in."
Bailey said the plan to service upwards of 450 new lots in Wingham is a first for the area.
"I think in my lifetime which spans 64 years in this area, this is the actual first subdivision we've ever put together. We've done a street or two, but this is a beginning, a new beginning for North Huron, so we hope to duplicate it through the next few years."
More information on the project can be found on the North Huron website or by calling the municipal office.