Planning and land use help Cochrane grow with purpose. Together with the community, we plan how neighbourhoods, businesses and public spaces develop over time so Cochrane remains a great place to live, work and visit.
Growth does not happen overnight. Some areas take 20 years or more to fully build out and are influenced by market conditions, population trends and the regional economy.
How planning works in Cochrane
Planning documents, approved by Council, guide how development happens across Cochrane. These plans set long-term direction and help ensure growth is thoughtful, sustainable and aligned with community values.
The Planning department:
- manages planning policies and processes
- provides advice to Cochrane Council based on our adopted policies
- supports the Cochrane Planning Commission and the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board
To learn more about specific plans and approval processes, explore the pages below.
Development summary
Development summary reports provide a snapshot of growth across Cochrane. They include information such as:
- approved and proposed area structure plans (ASP) and neighbourhood plans (NP)
- estimated number of housing units by plan area
- units built to date and remaining potential units
- lots approved through subdivision approval
This information help us understand land supply estimates, future population growth that could be accommodated by approved ASP and NP plans and how development aligns with available infrastructure such as water services.