Clarington Council approves Bowmanville East Urban Centre Secondary Plan

Decision marks first approval under Clarington’s expanded planning authority

Clarington, Ontario – Clarington Council has approved a renewed vision for Bowmanville's core: the Bowmanville East Urban Centre Secondary Plan. Developed in consultation with the community, the plan celebrates Bowmanville’s heritage and culture while evolving to accommodate growth and change.

This is the first Secondary Plan approved by Council under Ontario Regulation 525/97 of the Planning Act, following the transfer of planning authority from Durham Region to Clarington on January 1, 2025. This change has streamlined the planning process and provided Clarington with greater control over decisions that affect the community.

The vision: preserving Bowmanville’s historic downtown while fostering a thriving business district (image for illustrative purposes only)

“East Bowmanville will be a vibrant, livable and sustainable community. This plan celebrates the area’s historic character while adapting to meet the needs of the future,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster. “It paves the way for well-designed future growth that will ensure this area develops as a complete community which will thrive and prosper for years to come.”

Centered on the intersection of King Street East and Liberty Street, this 127-hectare area includes Bowmanville’s historic downtown, the east business district, the former Goodyear manufacturing lands, the Bowmanville Mall and the Lakeridge Health Bowmanville Hospital. It’s also home to businesses, services and government offices and includes a portion of the Bowmanville Creek, Soper Creek and their associated valleylands.

The vision: an integrated community with more options for walking, cycling and public transit (image for illustrative purposes only)

The Bowmanville East Urban Centre Secondary Plan features a mix of residential, commercial, employment, open space and institutional uses, to help shape the area into a retail, tourism and civic destination for people of all ages, incomes and abilities.

Key highlights include:

• Prioritizing transit-oriented development and an integrated community that promotes walking, cycling and public transportation, alongside vehicles.
• Accommodating sustainable growth while preserving Bowmanville’s historic downtown and fostering a thriving east business district.
• More opportunities for well-designed community spaces and streets with public art, greenery and culture.
• Protecting the natural heritage system, including the valley lands along Bowmanville and Soper Creeks.
• Promoting a diverse range of housing options to meet the varying needs and affordability of residents.
• Developing a comprehensive medical hub to support the expansion of Lakeridge Health Bowmanville Hospital, with facilities such as clinics, offices, and laboratories.
• A proposed redevelopment of the Goodyear Lands to create a vibrant community with new housing units and jobs with connections to the surrounding natural heritage system and downtown Bowmanville, along with direction to support the safe remediation and demolition of the site.

The Bowmanville East Urban Centre Secondary Plan was originally created in 1996 and was last updated in 2003. Significant public engagement was undertaken throughout the Secondary Plan process, which helped shape the policies that will guide the renewed vision and redevelopment of this area. 

What is a Secondary Plan? A Secondary Plan is a detailed set of rules and guidelines for developing a specific area within Clarington. It helps determine things like where buildings can go, how tall they can be, what kinds of businesses can operate there, and what kind of roads or parks are needed. Secondary Plans are important because they help make sure the area develops in a way that meets the community’s needs and fits with the rest of the municipality.

Learn more at www.clarington.net/BowmanvilleEast. 

Media inquiries:
Municipality of Clarington
Kaitlin Keefer, Communications Officer
905-809-3454 | kkeefer@clarington.net