NSW proposes 180 social homes on former Hurstville rail site

Around 180 social housing apartments could be built on vacant government land in Hurstville under a proposal released by the NSW Government late on Friday.

Homes NSW plans to redevelop a 6,172-square-metre former Transport for NSW property at 311A Forest Road. The site, previously used by Sydney Trains, sits between Hurstville and Penshurst railway stations and near shops, health services and other community facilities.

The proposal is still at the design and early consultation stage. It is not yet an approved development, construction has not started and the apartments are not open for housing applications.

What is proposed

The preliminary plan includes two residential buildings that could reach 10 storeys. Homes NSW says the project would provide approximately 180 social housing properties, along with car and bicycle parking, gardens and shared resident spaces.

The site was identified through the NSW Government’s audit of surplus public land. It would form part of the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program, which aims to increase social housing supply on government-owned sites.

The government has not yet published a detailed apartment mix, construction schedule or expected completion date. Those details may become clearer when a State Significant Development Application is lodged and placed on public exhibition.

Homes NSW says the buildings will be designed to complement the surrounding streetscape and provide modern, accessible homes. The project’s location near two railway stations is also intended to give future residents practical access to transport, employment and services.

Local waiting list remains much larger

The government says more than 1,500 households are on the Housing Register in the Georges River area, including more than 400 priority applicants.

If all 180 proposed homes proceed, they would represent meaningful new supply but would be equivalent to only a portion of the current local register. The figures also should not be read as a simple queue in which every household is waiting for the same property type or location: social housing allocation considers household needs, eligibility and available dwellings.

The proposal nevertheless stands out because every apartment would be social housing. Unlike mixed-tenure projects, it is not described as including private apartments for sale or market rentals.

For nearby private renters and buyers, the announcement does not create an immediate increase in available stock. Planning, assessment and construction will take time, and the direct purpose of the development is to house eligible social housing tenants rather than add homes to the open market.

Community feedback comes before the application

Homes NSW is seeking early comments before submitting the State Significant Development Application to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Feedback closes at 5pm on Monday, 28 September 2026. A community drop-in session will be held at the Hurstville Library Exhibition Area from 4.30pm to 7pm on Thursday, 24 September.

The government says submissions received during this first stage will be reviewed as the plans are developed. A second opportunity for public feedback will come when the formal application is exhibited through the NSW Planning Portal.

Residents assessing the proposal should distinguish between matters that can still change, such as detailed design and site layout, and the broader government objective of using the land for social housing. Useful feedback may cover building interfaces, landscaping, pedestrian access, traffic, privacy and how shared areas connect with the surrounding neighbourhood.

What happens next

After early consultation, Homes NSW intends to prepare and lodge the State Significant Development Application. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will then assess the project against planning requirements and submissions.

The eventual application should provide more detail on apartment sizes, accessibility, building separation, parking, environmental impacts and construction arrangements. Approval may also include conditions that alter how the project is delivered.

Until that process is complete, the figure of 180 homes and the possible 10-storey height should be treated as proposed rather than final.

What it means for you

• Social housing applicants cannot apply specifically for these apartments yet; the project remains at the design stage.
• Hurstville residents can provide early feedback until 5pm on 28 September 2026.
• A formal planning exhibition will provide another opportunity to comment after the application is lodged.
• The development would add substantial local social housing, but it would not immediately affect private sale or rental supply.