Sydney Inner West opens alternative housing plan for public feedback
Proposed zoning, height and density changes across numerous Inner West suburbs are now open for consultation, with residents able to check how individual properties may be affected.
RentBuy Team
4 min read
Property owners and renters across Sydney’s Inner West can now examine a council-led housing plan that proposes changes to zoning, building heights and development capacity across a wide group of suburbs.
Inner West Council placed the second stage of its Our Fairer Future plan on public exhibition on Wednesday, after councillors endorsed the draft on September 15. Submissions will remain open until October 28, with a revised proposal expected to return to the council in December.
The draft is the council’s proposed alternative to housing reforms introduced by the NSW Government around train stations, light rail stops and town centres.
Council says the plan is intended to spread new housing more broadly, protect heritage areas and match additional homes with transport, public space and community infrastructure. The alternative would still require further consideration and finalisation, including by the state government.
Which suburbs are included
Stage two examines locations that were not covered in the first part of the plan, as well as sites deferred for further investigation.
Areas under consideration include parts of:
- Annandale, Ashfield and Balmain
- Croydon and Dulwich Hill
- Enmore, Leichhardt and Lewisham
- Lilyfield and Marrickville
- Newtown and Petersham
- Rozelle, Stanmore and St Peters
The draft contains a revised proposal for the Croydon and Iron Cove precinct, deferred sites in Ashfield, Dulwich Hill, Marrickville and Leichhardt, and additional sites assessed in Marrickville, Ashfield, Rozelle and Balmain.
Council has also identified housing investigation areas near public transport, local centres and services in suburbs including Lilyfield, Leichhardt, Annandale, Lewisham, Petersham, Stanmore, Enmore, Newtown and St Peters.
Not every property within a listed suburb is proposed for change. The council has published an interactive address map showing existing and proposed controls for individual sites.
What could change
The plan proposes amendments to planning controls in selected locations, including land use, building heights, floor-space allowances and zoning.
It also includes affordable housing requirements and potential incentives for developments that deliver community benefits. Council says it is working with churches and faith-based charities on possible housing developments where 30 per cent of the homes would be required to be social housing.
Other supporting proposals include better public transport along Parramatta Road, changes to bus, train and light rail services, new cycling connections and a longer-term program for open space and community facilities.
Detailed changes will vary by precinct and property. A higher permitted building envelope, for example, does not guarantee that redevelopment will proceed. Site size, heritage controls, flooding, access, construction costs and market demand can all affect whether a proposal is viable.
What owners and renters should do
Owners in the investigation areas should check their address rather than relying on a suburb-wide description. Proposed controls can affect development potential, renovation plans and the type of neighbouring construction that may occur in future.
Apartment owners should also examine whether nearby sites are proposed for greater height or density. Changes could eventually influence views, privacy, traffic and local services, although the plan remains a draft.
Renters can comment on the location, design and affordability of future housing, as well as the transport and community facilities needed to support a larger population.
The exhibition is open from September 16 to October 28. After submissions are assessed, councillors are expected to consider a revised plan in December before any submission to the NSW Government for finalisation.
What it means for you
- Check the council’s interactive map to see whether a specific property is included.
- Proposed zoning does not take effect simply because the draft is on exhibition.
- Owners considering renovations or redevelopment should review the detailed precinct documents.
- Residents have until October 28, 2026 to provide feedback on the proposal.
