It is expected to grow 19 per cent from its current 48,046 to 54,936 in 2027, according to the Residential Development Council.

Tamworth is expected to have the 11th largest percentage of population growth in NSW behind cities including Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Port Macquarie.

A total of 241 new dwellings would need to built here each year for the next five years to house such growth.

It’s a scenario the city is well-prepared for.

Since amalgamation, Tamworth Regional Council has put substantial effort into planning for the future.

The population forecasts form the basis of the new draft Local Environment Plan to go on public exhibition next Thursday.

Council’s general manager Glenn Inglis said the LEP included a whole range of planning to take into account the projected population growth.

Planning includes 100 hectares of new residential land and 120ha of new commercial land.

Hills Plain, to be dealt with under a separate LEP process, was planned as a 20-year residential growth corridor.

“Communities have to plan for growth and this means having the available space and available housing stock, aligned with a major capital works program,” he said.

“In the past three years the council has invested $80 million in the effluent and sewerage project, which aims for 100 per cent recycling of waste water and was planned for a population of 65,000 people.”

During the past few years building approvals in Tamworth have exceeded the 214 new dwellings needed to accommodate demand.

The council has approved up to 1500 blocks at Hills Plain with more before it awaiting approval.

“That’s why confidence in Tamworth is high,” Mr Inglis said.

“Investors knew this 12 months ago and that’s why we are seeing the very positive position Tamworth is in now.”

The housing mix is something that meeds to be considered, Mr Inglis said, particularly affordable

housing.

“Alternate housing – smaller lots, villas and flats and if you consider the exponential increase in the over 65 bracket, there is a lot of aged care development going on,” he said.

“All in all it puts Tamworth in a very positive position to cater for projected growth.”