Inner West delivering higher housing densities than NSW Government rezonings

Tuesday 3 December 2024

Media release
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne

Inner West Council is finalising new planning controls that will deliver higher housing densities and residential building heights than the 6-storey development proposed by the NSW Government around transport hubs.

Council is well advanced on rezonings that will cover precincts nearby to train stations, light rail stops and main streets, with the final plans to be completed by April 2025.

Investigations and feasibility studies undertaken by Council show that the 6-storey rezonings proposed under the Government’s Transport Orientated Development (TOD) scheme will not lead to the required number of new homes actually being delivered.

Small lot sizes and high land values in the Inner West mean that higher densities will be required to make amalgamation and development of these sites commercially viable.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said that the Inner West is on track to meet or exceed its mandated housing targets with a comprehensive plan to be publicly exhibited in April 2025.

“Unlike other Council’s we are completing rezonings across all parts of our municipality, not just in the locations required by the Government’s rezonings,” said Byrne.

“What we know so far is that in many locations the 6-storey development proposed by the Government simply won’t result in new homes being delivered and we will need to go higher than that in order to actually deliver increased supply.

“Council will have comprehensive plans to exhibit to our community in April and these will include increased housing densities not just at train stations but also on main streets, light rail stops and in the Bays Precinct.

“We are nearing completion of our new Local Environment Plan (LEP) which will share increased housing density across the Inner West, while protecting high value heritage zones, and planning for new open spaces and infrastructure to support the increased population.

“We are also insisting that the Government speed up the process of gazetting our new LEP as the last one sat with the Department of Planning for 2 years before being made into law.

“To address the housing supply crisis, we all need to move quicker, the Department of Planning and councils alike.”

Ends

For media enquiries please contact Jonny Browne, Jonny.Browne@innerwest.nsw.gov.au