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Our Fairer Future Plan

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.

Frequently asked questions

Why are we doing this?
What are we doing?
What’s changing?
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What we're doing?

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.

Click here to view the Principles of Planning Engagement open in new window

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:

  • harmonise residential land use controls across the LGA so that there is consistency across the Inner West
  • create a clear difference between the residential zones (low, medium, high) to facilitate more diversity in the type of housing built across the Inner West.
  • bring alignment between the height of building and varying densities within the residential zones,
  • introduce height of building controls in the northern part of the LGA predominantly reflecting existing character

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:

  1. HIA Stage 1 included parts of Ashfield, Croydon, Dulwich Hill, and Marrickville train stations (approximately 800m catchment) and Dulwich Grove, Arlington and Waratah Mills light rail stops (approximately 400m catchment)
  2. HIA Stage 2 review included railway stations, light rail stops and local centre catchments, including Lewisham, Petersham, Stanmore, Leichhardt, St Peters, Annandale, Sydenham, Tempe and parts of Parramatta Road Corridor.

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.

  • incentivising the delivery of affordable housing on land owned by faith-based organisations
  • minimising the loss of dwellings through gentrification
  • harmonising minimum subdivision lot size for dwellings in certain areas
  • introducing minimum lot size for dual occupancies and associated modifications to reflect permissibility changes
  • introducing new clause for architectural roof features
  • removing the existing LEP clause regarding dwelling mix

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.

Our Proposal Documents - Document Library

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Interactive Map

The interactive map was used as an exhibition tool and has now been removed following the conclusion of the exhibition period, in preparation for the Council report.

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Attend a drop-in session

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.

Balmain-Baludarri Ward

  • Balmain Library - Uncle Bob Webb Chambers

    Date: Wednesday 11 June 2025

    Time: 5:30-8:30pm

    Location: 370 Darling St, Balmain

  • Balmain Library - Uncle Bob Webb

    Date: Saturday 14 June 2025

    Time: 9:30am-11:30am

    Location: 370 Darling St, Balmain

Leichhardt-Gulgadya Ward

  • Leichhardt Service Centre

    Date: Thursday 12 June 2025

    Time: 5:30-8:30pm

    Location: 7-15 Wetherill St, Leichhardt NSW 2040

  • Leichhardt Service Centre

    Date: Saturday 14 June 2025

    Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm

    Location: 7-15 Wetherill St, Leichhardt NSW 2040

Marrickville – Midjuburi Ward

  • Marrickville Library - Pavillion

    Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025

    Time: 5:30-8:30pm

    Location: 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville

  • Marrickville Library - Learning Room 1.1

    Date: Saturday 21 June 2025

    Time: 10:30am-12:30pm

    Location: 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville

  • Marrickville Library - Learning Room 1.1

    Date: Saturday 21 June 2025

    Time: 1:30pm-3:30pm

    Location: 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville

Stanmore – Damun Ward

  • Petersham Service Centre

    Date: Monday 16 June 2025

    Time: 5:30-8:30pm

    Location: 2-14 Fisher St, Petersham

  • Petersham Service Centre

    Date: Saturday 28 June 2025

    Time: 9:30-11:30am

    Location: 2-14 Fisher St, Petersham

Ashfield – Djarrawunang Ward

  • Ashfield Service Centre - Activity Room 2

    Date: Tuesday 24 June 2025

    Time: 5:30-8:30pm

    Location: 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield 2131

  • Ashfield Service Centre - Activity Room 2

    Date: Saturday 28 June 2025

    Time: 1:30-3:30pm

    Location: 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield 2131

  • Emanuel Tsardoulias Community Library

    Date: Wednesday 25 June 2025

    Time: 6:00-9:00pm

    Location: 362/372 New Canterbury Rd, Dulwich Hill

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Speak with a Planner at the Drop-in

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:

  • Bookings are limited to one per person.
  • A maximum of 5 people can attend an appointment.
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Have Your Say

You can provide feedback by:

Last day to provide feedback is 6 July 2025.

Call us on 02 9392 5851 to find more information

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What happens next?

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.