More affordable housing is coming to Bradford West Gwillimbury after a decision at the county level.

Simcoe County has approved the transfer of land from Bradford West Gwillimbury to the county and directed staff to move forward with the design of an affordable housing development.

The affordable housing project is a part of a larger redevelopment strategy for 7.2 hectares of town-owned property bounded by Simcoe Road to the west, Edward Street to the north and Marshview Boulevard to the south and east. 

The four-storey apartment building and parking lot will be built on nearly 1 hectare of land at the northeast corner of Simcoe Road and Marshview Boulevard.

The apartment building will contain about 50 units with one, two and three-bedroom rental apartments for families and seniors. It will be owned and managed by the Simcoe County Housing Corporation.

“I am very pleased that this project has come together because affordable housing is badly needed in BWG, where housing prices have continued to rise and rental units are scarce,” says Mayor Rob Keffer. “It’s an ideal location, close to downtown and to the GO Train station, as well as to our future civic campus where residents will be able to access a wide variety of services.”

Simcoe County council adopted its “Our Community 10-year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy” in 2014. The strategy set a target of delivering at least 2,685 new affordable housing units throughout the region by 2024, which includes 202 units in Bradford.