Balmain Library - Uncle Bob Webb Chambers
Date: Wednesday 11 June 2025
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Location: 370 Darling St, Balmain
Like the rest of Sydney, the Inner West simply doesn't have enough homes. This is driving up the cost of housing, making it unaffordable for many Inner Westies, especially younger people, renters, and essential workers.
And if we lose this diversity, we lose what is best about our community.
But a one-size-fits-all housing plan would have impacted too much on the character of the Inner West without providing enough housing.
Through careful local planning and community consultation, Inner West Council has developed a better alternative for our community.
Our Fairer Future Plan concentrates new homes around town centres and transport hubs.
It will revitalise Inner West shopping and entertainment precincts, creating new venues and jobs, and giving local businesses a boost.
All while protecting the unique character we love.
These plans have been developed by Council staff and independent planning and architectural experts. Now we want to hear from you.
At its meeting on 20 May 2025, Council resolved to exhibit Our Fairer Future Plan for community feedback.
C0525(1) Item 2 'Fairer Future for the Inner West’ – Council-Led alternate Planning Approach for New Housing |
Motion: (D’Arienzo/Byrne) 1. That Council endorse for exhibition Item, including supporting technical studies, as shown at Attachment 1 and Appendices 1- 11, in accordance with the endorsed Community Engagement Plan for the following suburbs in the Inner West Local Government Area: a) Annandale, Ashbury, Ashfield, Balmain, Balmain East, Birchgrove, Camperdown, Croydon, Croydon Park, Dulwich Hill, Enmore, Hurlstone Park, Lewisham, Lilyfield, Newtown, Petersham, Stanmore, Summer Hill, Sydenham and Tempe. 2. That Council delegate the Director Planning to make any minor editorial/ formatting/ technical modifications to the package prior to public exhibition. 3. That Council process submissions contemporaneously during the exhibition period and provide an update at every Councillor briefing until the August Council meeting. 4. That following the conclusion of the exhibition period, an engagement outcomes report be brought back to Council for consideration prior to submitting the Council-led “Fairer Future for the Inner West” Plan to NSW Government for implementation through a State-led fast track approval pathway. 5. The final “Fairer Future for the Inner West” plan is to be reported back for adoption to the August 2025 Council meeting. 6. That the final plan should be amended to make the acquisition of new housing stock, owned by Council in perpetuity, be made the highest priority for public benefits to be achieved through developer contributions. This is to be reflected in the plans tabled for adoption. 7. That Council defer consideration of any changes to planning controls in the suburb of Croydon pending consultation with Burwood Council to identify how to harmonise controls across Croydon. 8. That Council note that following the adoption of the “Fairer Future for the Inner West” Plan that a new stage (stage 2) of investigations will be required for areas not examined under the plan so far. 9. That Stage 2 of the “Fairer Future for the Inner West” Plan will commence immediately after the adoption of the Stage 1 and include: a) Incorporating the 3,000 - 5,000 new homes in the Bays Precinct; b) Increasing density on Parramatta Road; c) Increasing density on main streets, heavy and light rail stations not examined fully in Stage 1; and d) completion of the further technical investigations required for the ‘additional housing opportunity areas’. 10. That Council makes available a video explainer on how to read the Fairer Future Plan and attachments. 11. That Council appoints a single point of contact from within the Strategic Planning team for Councillors and Members of Parliament. 12. That the Plan be exhibited for a minimum of 6 weeks. |
The housing crisis is real and is impacting on so many local people. That’s why we’re taking action to boost housing supply in the Inner West. Our goal is to make it easier to build homes near public transport hubs and town centres while preserving our area’s unique heritage and character. Over the next 15 years, this plan will deliver approximately 35,000 new homes, including lots of new affordable housing and a mix of housing types so that more people who love the Inner West can live here.
A Fairer Future has been developed as an alternative to the NSW Government’s housing reforms and achieves more homes across the whole of the Inner West, with a fairer and more even distribution of density across the whole area. These draft plans have been developed by independent planning and architectural experts and Council staff, through a block-by-block assessment of where housing can best be located.
Our alternate approach updates planning controls for land use, building heights and densities in select precincts, while protecting heritage conservation areas. The plan also identifies the new infrastructure and community facilities needed to support an increased population. Through our new Inner West City Architect, we will also ensure that the design of these new homes is high quality and adds to local amenity.
This plan will provide diverse housing options, including affordable, family-friendly apartments, and create vibrant, walkable communities while preserving the unique character of our neighbourhoods. By taking action now we can make sure that more young people, renters and essential workers can live here now and that our children and grandchildren will have homes here in the future.
Want to know if your property is affected? Check our interactive map at yoursay.innerwest. nsw.gov.au. Simply type your address to see the current and proposed planning controls and learn how this proposal impacts you. You can also view draft documents and make a submission here.
Through careful local planning, Inner West Council has developed a better alternative for our community. Our Fairer Future Plan concentrates new homes around town centres and transport hubs while preserving the area’s unique character. This Plan is prepared in line with Council's Planning Principles which were consulted with the community in mid 2024 and endorsed by Council in October 2024.
It is intended that Our Fairer Future Plan will apply to the Inner West instead of the NSW Government’s Housing Reforms.
Our Fairer Future Plan aims to provide diverse housing options, including affordable, family-friendly apartments, and create vibrant, walkable communities while preserving the unique character of our neighbourhoods.
This plan proposes changes to the Inner West Local Environmental Plan (IWLEP) 2022 and includes the following three components:
The Residential Review has reviewed the planning controls to:
Refer to the document library for: Attachment 1 – Council’s Approach for new housing, Appendix 1- Residential Review, Appendix – 10 Current and Proposed Maps
The master plans identify areas of change through a place-based urban design approach to support increased housing density in well-located and well-serviced areas. These set out what the change will look like and the rationale for change. The master planning for Housing Investigation Areas (HIA) was undertaken in two stages:
The proposal also recommends improvements to social, recreational, and transport infrastructure, such as:
- new walking and cycling paths along Iron Cove Creek
- multi-purpose libraries in Leichhardt and Dulwich Hill, and
- new parks and plazas in Ashfield, Croydon, Dulwich Hill, and Marrickville
- improved public domain, new through-site links and active transport connections
Refer to the document library for: Attachment 1 – Council’s Approach for new housing, Appendix 2 – Draft Masterplans for Housing Investigation Areas Appendix 3 – Draft Design Guides and supporting studies in the Appendices – 4- 11
The following general amendments are proposed to facilitate additional housing, particularly affordable housing, maximise housing choice, deliver good design and increased consistency of planning controls across the LGA.
Refer to the document library for: Attachment 1 – Council’s Approach for new housing – 10 Current and Proposed Maps.
This document outlines the proposed changes as part of Council's approach for new housing in the Inner West.
You can use the interactive mapping tool to view and compare current and proposed controls. Once a property is selected it will generate a table outlining if any changes are proposed.
Instructions for use are available on the bottom tab of the tool or in this guide.
Join us at one of our upcoming drop-in sessions, held on weekday evenings and Saturdays in each ward, at a time that suits you. These sessions are a great opportunity to talk to one of the team to learn more about the proposed project, ask questions and share your thoughts.
We encourage everyone to come along, get informed, and be part of the conversation about the future of our community.
If you'd like to find out more information about your specific property, you can register to speak with a planner below.
The Ashfield Service Centre display will be staffed by Officers from 9:30 - 11:30am every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 22 May till 3 July.
Date: Wednesday 11 June 2025
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Location: 370 Darling St, Balmain
Date: Saturday 14 June 2025
Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Location: 370 Darling St, Balmain
Date: Thursday 12 June 2025
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Location: 7-15 Wetherill St, Leichhardt NSW 2040
Date: Saturday 14 June 2025
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: 7-15 Wetherill St, Leichhardt NSW 2040
Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Location: 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
Date: Saturday 21 June 2025
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Location: 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
Date: Saturday 21 June 2025
Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm
Location: 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
Date: Monday 16 June 2025
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Location: 2-14 Fisher St, Petersham
Date: Saturday 28 June 2025
Time: 9:30-11:30am
Location: 2-14 Fisher St, Petersham
Date: Tuesday 24 June 2025
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Location: 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield 2131
Date: Saturday 28 June 2025
Time: 1:30-3:30pm
Location: 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield 2131
Date: Wednesday 25 June 2025
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Location: 362/372 New Canterbury Rd, Dulwich Hill
The drop-in sessions will have dedicated Planning Officers who can speak with you about specific matters.
If you would like to speak with a planner, please book your 15-minute appointment below.
To ensure this service is equitable and dedicated to your needs:
Last day to provide feedback is 6 July 2025.
Call us on 02 9392 5851 to find more information
Council will review submissions and report the outcomes, before the final proposal is considered by Council.
The Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (DPHI) is the final decision maker on the controls that are implemented. The proposal will be submitted to DPHI for finalisation through an accelerated planning pathway.