The　Xiong＇an　New　Area　is　a　state-level　new　area　to　be　established　in　the　Baoding　area　of　Hebei　province,　North　China.　The　planning　population　growth　goal　for　the　area　is　going　to　reach　2.5　million　and　the　area　is　planned　to　expand　to　2000　km2.　The　potential　population　growth　and　area　expansion　will　result　in　massive　increase　in　impervious　surface　(IS)　dominated　built　land　and　thus　may　impact　the　area＇s　thermal　environment.　Therefore,　based　on　current　land　cover　types　and　thermal　environment　status　in　the　area,　this　study　developed　a　statistical　model　to　predict　thermal　effects　responding　to　the　forthcoming　population　and　associated　IS　increase　in　the　new　area　using　remote　sensing　technology.　This　was　achieved　by　relating　population　growth　to　IS　area　increase,　exploring　the　relationships　among　population,　land　cover,　and　land　surface　temperature　(LST),　and　developing　a　metric　for　estimating　a　balance　amount　of　total　IS　area　to　be　expanded.　The　prediction　shows　that　IS　has　a　noteworthy　effect　on　regional　thermal　environment.　The　variation　in　the　proportions　of　the　IS　in　the　new　area　can　result　in　a　significant　shift　of　LST.　A　balance　amount　of　total　IS　area　in　the　2000　km2　new　area　is　433　km2.　Exceeding/reducing　the　amount　would　result　in　a　rise/decline　of　the　area＇s　LST.　Introducing　a　quantity　of　IS　area-related　population　density　(IPD)　reveals　that　the　area＇s　LST　is　closely　related　to　IPD　when　the　total　area　and　future　population　of　the　new　area　are　given.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd