The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has approved a key land policy change that could fast track construction on a new mega mall in northwest Brampton.

OMB board chair Jyoti Zuidema on Friday (Sept. 30) handed down a decision that adjusts the boundary of the Mount Pleasant Secondary Plan to include lands for a 1.2-million-square-foot regional retail centre and surrounding mixed-use development proposed for Bovaird Drive and Mississauga Road. Also included in that boundary change are lands owned by two major residential developers, Heathwood Homes and MCN.

The decision removes one hurdle for the Osmington mall group, which has been locked in legal wranglings since the project was first proposed in 2010.

With the land policy changes in place, Osmington will now focus on securing the zoning approvals as well as fend off a challenge from Morguard, the owners of Bramalea City Centre, which has mounted a serious legal challenge in a bid to prevent competition from moving onto its turf.