The Minns Labor Government has released three new draft strategic planning documents which re-align Sydney's long-term housing and jobs growth planning in line with the state's landmark reforms and initiatives.
The draft Sydney Plan, new Approach to Strategic Planning Discussion Paper and Statewide Policy for Industrial Lands map out a clear and bright future for Sydney and NSW.
The Draft Sydney Plan once finalised will replace the outdated Greater Sydney Region Plan providing new comprehensive guidance for Sydney's growth over the next two decades further cementing the Minns Labor Government's work to rebalance Sydney's long-term housing growth.
It delivers clear direction on how and where new jobs and homes should be located to make living in the city more affordable while driving the growth of Australia's largest economy.
Key proposed changes include:
- Better aligning infrastructure to planned growth for both infill and greenfield development.
- Increasing the supply of well-located jobs, by delivering more guidance to councils on employment categories that suit their area.
- Protecting and enhancing the natural environment by bringing contemporary environmental management approaches into the planning process early and delivering more urban greening.
- Making affordable housing contribution scheme's mandatory for all councils, so every part of Sydney is doing their part to create a more affordable city.
The Draft Sydney Plan is the first of four region plans which will set out the strategic planning directions for all of NSW helping to better enable the Minns Labor Government's nation leading reforms for a more consistent, coordinated and fit for purpose planning system.
This draft plan underpins our major policy reforms in housing, affordable housing, industrial lands, vibrancy, infrastructure delivery and resilience.
A New Approach to Strategic Planning: Discussion Paperproposes a new simplified, three-tiered framework for strategic plans, aiming to put an end to what is currently an overly complex and often duplicative system.
The new framework would include:
- A State Land Use Plan to set clear statewide priorities.
- Regional plans to guide growth and infrastructure.
- Local Strategic Planning Statements (LSPS) to lead local implementation.
The proposed changes will give councils, agencies, and industry across NSW greater certainty moving forward so their effort can be better directed towards work that will have the biggest benefit.
The Statewide Policy for Industrial lands will improve how we plan, secure and manage industrial land across NSW.
It will categorise industrial land as either state, regionally or locally significant, improving how we coordinate, process and manage industrial lands to support job creation and economic growth in key industries.
This policy supports the implementation of the Industrial Lands Action Plan, released earlier this year to boost industrial land supply across the state.
We are seeking feedback on each of these documents until Friday, 27 February 2026.
For more information and to view the draft plans, visit:
- The draft Sydney Plan
- A New Approach to Strategic Planning: Discussion Paper
- Statewide Policy for Industrial Lands
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
"The Minns Labor Government is updating the outdated 2018 Greater Sydney Plan setting a new direction for the long-term growth of jobs and housing so more people will be able to live, work and play in Sydney.
"This builds on the Minns Labor Government's work to rebalance growth and reshape the planning system so it is fit for purpose and ready to meet today's challenges.
"It continues to drive Sydney's economic and residential growth, while also enabling a city filled with the kind of vibrancy that attracts international jobs, knowledge and industry.
"The new Statewide Policy for Industrial Lands adds to this supporting more jobs across the state by strengthening how we plan, secure and manage industrial land across NSW.
"The Minns Labor Government inherited a shortage of serviced and available industrial and employment lands, along with a shortage of homes. The industrial lands policy will help to deliver new land for job-creating investments while making sure that employment land around key infrastructure such as ports and airports is retained for the long-term."
"I encourage people to have their say on these documents which will provide the long-term certainty for residents, councils, businesses and investors."
