New housing on track for Croydon
More homes are on the way for Sydney’s Inner West with new planning controls being introduced around Croydon Station.
The new planning controls to be introduced this week around Croydon Station in the Inner West local government area (LGA) will provide capacity for more than 2,700 new homes over the next 15 years.
The Croydon Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precinct sits across two LGAs with Inner West Council to the south and east of the railway line, and Burwood Council to the north and west of the station.
Croydon’s TOD State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) provisions will be triggered for Inner West Council as Council did not meet the strategic planning deadline to provide their own masterplan with equal or greater housing outcomes before 31 January 2025.
Burwood City Council meanwhile has taken up the Minister’s challenge to produce its own detailed master planning in place of the TOD SEPP on the western side of the Croydon precinct.
Council’s plan seeks to concentrate higher and mid-rise density development on the northern side of the rail corridor between Croydon and Burwood Town Centres, while protecting existing important heritage and character areas to the southern section of Burwood North.
The plan recommends changes to land use zones, building heights, and density within the Croydon Masterplan Investigation Area. It also aims to improve the public domain by expanding open spaces, ensuring appropriate setbacks, planting street trees, and enhancing parking and active transport facilities.
Public consultation was undertaken by Council with feedback considered before final plans were submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) by the January deadline.
DPHI is now assessing Council’s plans to ensure they meet the requirements of the agreement between Council and the NSW Government.
For more information on Burwood Council’s proposed plans for the Croydon TOD SEPP precinct, read Attachments Paper – Burwood Council Extraordinary Meeting.
Inner West Council and Burwood Council will continue to assess, consider and weigh up the merits of the impacts of proposed developments during the development assessment stage, unless a proposal is assessed through a State Significant Development pathway.
Croydon’s new TOD SEPP planning controls in the Inner West LGA can be viewed on the NSW Government Spatial Viewer once the changes are notified early in February.
Housing affordability is the single largest cost of living concern for people of NSW with the impacts being felt across the state, whether it be students, workers, young families or people looking to downsize later in life.
The TOD Program is just one part of the Minns Labor Government’s efforts to confront the housing crisis by speeding up the planning system, investing in social and affordable housing, and reforming NSW rental laws.
TOD provisions now apply to 29 stations across Greater Sydney with only 5 stations remaining to be scheduled between now and June 2025. These stations include Cockle Creek, North Wollongong, St Marys, Punchbowl and Wiley Park.
Up to 37 locations were identified as being suitable for inclusion in the TOD SEPP program. Eighteen of the station precincts were adopted on 13 May 2024 with the remaining 19 deferred for further strategic work to be rolled out between now and June 2025.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“Sydney’s inner west has always been bustling with activity and these planning changes will mean more people get to enjoy its great location and connectivity.
“Croydon provides an ideal strategic location to leverage the benefits of Inner West living, while being close to public transport and essential services in and around Croydon and Burwood.
“Burwood Council has suggested a planning solution that means more homes near a train station, near services and the community.
“Croydon now stands ready for an exciting new chapter in its long-storied history whereby thousands of new residents will get to experience the great cosmopolitan lifestyle this suburb offers.”
Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-Sen Li said:
“Burwood Council’s draft masterplan was the product of months of detailed consultation between the council and the community.
“The Masterplan represents a sound blueprint for Croydon’s future. It balances the urgent need for more quality homes close to transport with the community imperative to protect long-established heritage conservation areas such as the Malvern Hill Estate, Cintra Estate and the Strand.
“The Masterplan will also aim to improve amenity by expanding open spaces, providing appropriate setbacks, planting street trees, and enhancing parking and active transport facilities.
“I would like to thank Burwood Council and the many residents who made their voices heard during this important process.”