The Minns Labor Government and Inner West Councillors are today announcing an agreement to partner on rezoning along the Parramatta Road corridor that could deliver around 8,000 new homes close to the CBD.
The proposed rezoning would cover the section of Parramatta Road within the Inner West Local Government Area, complementing work already underway with Inner West Council, Burwood and Canada Bay Council.
This transport corridor which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes is close to the Sydney CBD with direct access to major hospitals including Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, a number of local public schools with existing capacity and green space.
Throughout the rezoning process affordable housing, active transport connections, new open space, retail and commercial opportunities, as well as improvements to the public domain will all be examined.
Sydney is the second least affordable city in the world, with house prices having significantly outstripped wage growth over the last two decades and a NSW Productivity Commission report warning that Sydney is at risk of becoming a city without grandchildren as NSW is losing twice as many young people as it gains each year.
The Minns Labor Government has been leading the way with bold plans to deliver more housing for young people and families who have been locked out of desperately needed new homes
This builds on previous work from the Minns Government to increase homes along the Parramatta Road transport corridor including:
- 8 projects along Parramatta Road that have been declared State Significant through the Housing Delivery Authority and the Infill Affordable Housing Bonus which could deliver 3,968 homes, including affordable housing.
- Three sites from the government land audit, which will deliver around 800 homes, including social and key worker housing.
- A Transport Oriented Development Accelerated Precinct and state-led rezoning at Homebush and North Burwood which combined will deliver up to 33,000 homes.
- And 11 Low and Mid-Rise sites along the length of the corridor.
This has been further supported by once in a generation reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government to build more well-located homes for young people and families including the largest rezoning in NSW history and delivering the largest investment in social and affordable housing in the state's history at $6.6 billion.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will work with council and the relevant State government agencies to progress the rezoning. There are no compulsory acquisitions proposed as part of this plan.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:
"Parramatta Road has been talked about for decades with little result. It's time to stop talking and start building. What will transform this major corridor is more homes for people to revitalise this area. That's what's needed to deliver more vibrancy to one of our city's most important corridors.
"We know Sydney is facing a housing crisis. That's why my Government is working with councils like the Inner West to get homes built faster, and in places with existing services and infrastructure.
"We're not just planning for more homes, we're planning for better communities, with more affordable housing, better streetscapes and public spaces, and access to jobs and transport."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:
"Parramatta Road needs more homes and jobs in vibrant communities. It's a major transport corridor that connects so many communities to the city but it can be so much than a tired thoroughfare.
"By working closely with Inner West Council, we'll make sure planning reflects the needs of local communities while providing the new homes Sydney so desperately needs."
Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:
"For too long Parramatta Road has been a missed opportunity to deliver more homes for young people and families.
"Today we are making real changes to deliver housing solutions that reflect our values-affordability, sustainability, and liveability, on a key transport link with buses to the city every 1-5 minutes in the peak.
"This partnership shows what's possible when councils and government collaborate to tackle Sydney's housing crisis head-on."
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said:
"Our Inner West community wants to see more desperately needed new homes delivered and local people are telling us that the Parramatta Road corridor is the right location for higher residential densities.
"By partnering with the Government to build more homes on Parramatta Road we can give more of our young people and essential workers a place to live in the Inner West, and make sure that increased density is distributed fairly across our whole community.
