The plan to build more 11-storey unit blocks in Sydney's inner west
Apartment blocks up to 11 storeys will be allowed around train stations in Sydney's inner west after the local council objected to a state-imposed rezoning and drew up its own plans to deliver more than 30,000 new homes.
The Inner West Council on Tuesday revealed its long-awaited proposal to boost housing supply after it objected to the government's transport-oriented development (TOD) scheme to rezone land within 400 metres of dozens of train stations across Sydney to allow six- or seven-storey unit blocks.
Under the council's proposed changes to planning rules, buildings of mostly six to 11 storeys will be clustered around Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Croydon and Ashfield stations, as well as light rail stops and main streets in a bid to more evenly distribute higher density housing across the municipality.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said council staff and consultants had pieced together the proposal 'block-by-block' as a nuanced alternative to the government's blanket rezoning that came into effect last year.
'The draft plan is an excellent start … [This] is a blueprint for how we can fix the housing supply crisis in our own backyard,' Byrne said.
The government of Chris Minns has forged ahead with plans to encourage the construction of more units around 37 train stations under its rezoning scheme as it attempts to meet its share of the National Housing Accord target to deliver 377,000 well-located homes throughout the state by mid-2029.
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The council's proposal, dubbed its 'fairer future' plan, enables the construction of 31,000 homes within 15 years. Another 3000 to 5000 homes are proposed for the state-led Bays West precinct around the future metro station at Rozelle. The council has a target to deliver 7800 new homes within five years.
The council planning documents said the changes 'support local housing needs up to 2039 and exceed the Inner West's five-year housing target and state government's targets'.
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