Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
London's making the same of mistake that will keep all of our property taxes (which also means rents) going up forever. Council's struggling to get 2026's property taxes increases down to 5% already. Here's the thing: cities growing is totally fine! But cities committing to sprawling is NOT okay.
One of the tools that the City of London uses to control city bounds is an Urban Growth Boundary. It's really important, but Land Developers have been endlessly lobbying to loosen this border as much as they can because it makes their jobs easier. At the surface, this might seem like a good idea (especially with the housing crisis). “Easier” sounds better… but it's not. And it won't actually help with the housing or affordability crisis, either.
This video is a deep dive into this issue.
Extensive spreadsheet of “land owner requests x Campaign donations comparison” can be found here: bendurham.ca/donors2022
================
Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, like our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at patreon.com/bendurham
Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com
• where to find me •
Website: bendurham.ca
Instagram: instagram.com/bendurham.ca
TikTok: tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca
================
Some links below are affiliate links (no extra cost for you, kickbacks for me for these free videos for you).
================
⏬ Products and Gear Used in this video (affiliate links*)
================
I'm making a gear page for everything I use, in one place: bendurham.ca/gear-guide
Main equipment used in this video:
🎥 Canon EOS R7 Super 35 Sensor: amzn.to/42rCwIu
🕶 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC Lens (EF mount): amzn.to/4b3OPyy
^ at 24mm
🖇 Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapter: amzn.to/3UHoFfo
🎤 Shure SM58: amzn.to/4f5ckKi
👆⏺ with a Zoom F3 (32-bit Float Field Recorder): amzn.to/4f5ckKi
🌬🚫 Shure A2WS Windscreen: amzn.to/3zKuzo8
================
My other regularly used camera equipment:
================
🎥 Canon EOS R6 Full-Frame used a lot outside the studio: amzn.to/43HmkFS
🎥 GoPro 11 often used in biking footage (just not in this video)
But the GoPro 13 is the best right now: amzn.to/3ZvBY4C
👓 Canon RF 35mm f1.8 lens is my fave lens on FF cameras: amzn.to/40piZXk
👓 Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L lens: amzn.to/3xa1Aq8
👓 Canon RF50mm F 1.2L: amzn.to/35Lp9KK
👓 Canon RF16mm F2.8 STM: amzn.to/3udJTEu
🎤 Tascam DR-10L 24-bit lav mic recorders: amzn.to/3XRpu7u
🎤 The newest Tascam DR-10L Pro (32bit): amzn.to/4cDxhKa
🎤 Wireless Lav Mics (I use the old Sennheiser G3 setup): amzn.to/3ufIcpT
🌬🚫 Shure A81WS Windscreen: amzn.to/3XWk5Mm
💁♂️ Manfrotto Fluid Head Tripod amzn.to/3VQr4Un
💁♂️ Travel Tripod (very light): amzn.to/3L3zS1T
💁♂️ Slightly larger tripod: amzn.to/3KjIqBY
Stabilization:
🎈current gimbal: Ronin S (discontinued)
I'll be upgrading to the DJI RS 4: amzn.to/3PuVRmV
or maybe the lighter DJI Osmo Pocket 3: amzn.to/40qDGoJ
💻 OBS for screen-captures
🚲 cargo trailer that I use: amzn.to/46eYot4
🚲 cargo ebike: Tern GSD (gen2)
🚲 my ebike: Ride1Up 500 Series Step-Thru (discontinued)
🚲 Natalia's bike: Biktrix Swift Step-Thru (gen1) [review: youtu.be/jbpyzhw9-NQ]
================
WATCH and RATE the Wheels and Beyond podcast on:
» Spotify: bendurham.ca/WAB-spotify
» bendurham.ca/WAB-apple
» bendurham.ca/WAB-yt
================
⌚ CHAPTERS ⌚
00:00 Intro
01:03 How this affects YOUR wallet
01:48 London, Ontario case study
02:56 What is an urban growth boundary?
04:49 Land value impact of UGB changes
05:10 London's UGB expansion timeline
07:15 Inside the planning changes
08:20 City budget crisis
09:14 You're a city co-owner, btw
10:36 Why expansion worsens problems
11:05 Developer tactics explained
12:20 Conflicting city pressures
13:36 Housing crisis misconceptions
14:43 Development charges explained
15:27 Mayor's lobbying efforts
16:15 Long-term financial risks
17:04 UGB expansion costs analysis
18:11 Infrastructure debt timebomb
20:00 Leapfrog development
21:36 The missing middle solution
23:00 Land developers
24:56 Developer incentives revealed
26:34 Election campaign donations
28:05 Voting against a lobbyist registry
28:49 Farmland loss, food security concerns
31:47 How you can fight tax hikes
33:14 Resources
London's making the same of mistake that will keep all of our property taxes (which also means rents) going up forever. Council's struggling to get 2026's property taxes increases down to 5% already. Here's the thing: cities growing is totally fine! But cities committing to sprawling is NOT okay.
One of the tools that the City of London uses to control city bounds is an Urban Growth Boundary. It's really important, but Land Developers have been endlessly lobbying to loosen this border as much as they can because it makes their jobs easier. At the surface, this might seem like a good idea (especially with the housing crisis). “Easier” sounds better… but it's not. And it won't actually help with the housing or affordability crisis, either.
This video is a deep dive into this issue.
Extensive spreadsheet of “land owner requests x Campaign donations comparison” can be found here: bendurham.ca/donors2022
================
Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, like our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at patreon.com/bendurham
Do you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: bendurhamproductions@gmail.com
• where to find me •
Website: bendurham.ca
Instagram: instagram.com/bendurham.ca
TikTok: tiktok.com/@bendurham.ca
================
Some links below are affiliate links (no extra cost for you, kickbacks for me for these free videos for you).
================
⏬ Products and Gear Used in this video (affiliate links*)
================
I'm making a gear page for everything I use, in one place: bendurham.ca/gear-guide
Main equipment used in this video:
🎥 Canon EOS R7 Super 35 Sensor: amzn.to/42rCwIu
🕶 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC Lens (EF mount): amzn.to/4b3OPyy
^ at 24mm
🖇 Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapter: amzn.to/3UHoFfo
🎤 Shure SM58: amzn.to/4f5ckKi
👆⏺ with a Zoom F3 (32-bit Float Field Recorder): amzn.to/4f5ckKi
🌬🚫 Shure A2WS Windscreen: amzn.to/3zKuzo8
================
My other regularly used camera equipment:
================
🎥 Canon EOS R6 Full-Frame used a lot outside the studio: amzn.to/43HmkFS
🎥 GoPro 11 often used in biking footage (just not in this video)
But the GoPro 13 is the best right now: amzn.to/3ZvBY4C
👓 Canon RF 35mm f1.8 lens is my fave lens on FF cameras: amzn.to/40piZXk
👓 Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L lens: amzn.to/3xa1Aq8
👓 Canon RF50mm F 1.2L: amzn.to/35Lp9KK
👓 Canon RF16mm F2.8 STM: amzn.to/3udJTEu
🎤 Tascam DR-10L 24-bit lav mic recorders: amzn.to/3XRpu7u
🎤 The newest Tascam DR-10L Pro (32bit): amzn.to/4cDxhKa
🎤 Wireless Lav Mics (I use the old Sennheiser G3 setup): amzn.to/3ufIcpT
🌬🚫 Shure A81WS Windscreen: amzn.to/3XWk5Mm
💁♂️ Manfrotto Fluid Head Tripod amzn.to/3VQr4Un
💁♂️ Travel Tripod (very light): amzn.to/3L3zS1T
💁♂️ Slightly larger tripod: amzn.to/3KjIqBY
Stabilization:
🎈current gimbal: Ronin S (discontinued)
I'll be upgrading to the DJI RS 4: amzn.to/3PuVRmV
or maybe the lighter DJI Osmo Pocket 3: amzn.to/40qDGoJ
💻 OBS for screen-captures
🚲 cargo trailer that I use: amzn.to/46eYot4
🚲 cargo ebike: Tern GSD (gen2)
🚲 my ebike: Ride1Up 500 Series Step-Thru (discontinued)
🚲 Natalia's bike: Biktrix Swift Step-Thru (gen1) [review: youtu.be/jbpyzhw9-NQ]
================
WATCH and RATE the Wheels and Beyond podcast on:
» Spotify: bendurham.ca/WAB-spotify
» bendurham.ca/WAB-apple
» bendurham.ca/WAB-yt
================
⌚ CHAPTERS ⌚
00:00 Intro
01:03 How this affects YOUR wallet
01:48 London, Ontario case study
02:56 What is an urban growth boundary?
04:49 Land value impact of UGB changes
05:10 London's UGB expansion timeline
07:15 Inside the planning changes
08:20 City budget crisis
09:14 You're a city co-owner, btw
10:36 Why expansion worsens problems
11:05 Developer tactics explained
12:20 Conflicting city pressures
13:36 Housing crisis misconceptions
14:43 Development charges explained
15:27 Mayor's lobbying efforts
16:15 Long-term financial risks
17:04 UGB expansion costs analysis
18:11 Infrastructure debt timebomb
20:00 Leapfrog development
21:36 The missing middle solution
23:00 Land developers
24:56 Developer incentives revealed
26:34 Election campaign donations
28:05 Voting against a lobbyist registry
28:49 Farmland loss, food security concerns
31:47 How you can fight tax hikes
33:14 Resources
