The Greater Sydney Commission’s (GSC) plan for Sydney’s growth is an impressive document to set the path for cities future but more advocacy is needed for the inevitable swing to urban apartment living says the Urban Taskforce.
“With three simultaneous plans for Sydney’s growth being issued at the same time covering planning, transport and infrastructure the NSW Government has set a clear path for the future.” says Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson “As well as the Greater Sydney Region Plan titled A Metropolis of Three Cities, the Future Transport 2056 and the State Infrastructure Strategy 2018 – 38 have been issued.”
“There is clearly an enormous amount of material to be assessed in these documents by communities and industry. As is often the case there will be some detail aspects that could have a big impact.”
“The Urban Taskforce believes that Metropolitan Sydney is undergoing a dramatic change from being a suburban low rise city to becoming a more urban medium and high rise city of apartment dwellers. Our projections are that in 40 years time 50 percent of homes in Sydney will be in apartments which is a big increase on the current 30 percent. But there is significant tension in the community about this change and we believe the plan should have shown more advocacy for the urban form of the city.”
“The language in the GSC’s plan is about more diverse housing and about a mix of house types presumably leaving the actual mix to council plans. We have recently seen a number of local members of the NSW Parliament raising concerns about stopping the squeeze and increased density and this is likely to continue up to the state election next year.”
“There are a few improvements in the latest plan relative to the previous draft plans. The redevelopment of industrial land along the Parramatta Road Urban Renewal strategy will not need to comply with the GSC’s prohibition of the development of these sites. A recent planning decision on land in Lords Road Leichhardt to not support development that conformed with the Parramatta Road strategy can now be overturned.”
“Another positive shift has been to include residential development in Strategic Centres where previous definitions excluded this.”
“A new term has arrived in the form of ‘Metropolitan Cluster’ which seems to apply to the third city, the Western Parkland City. It appears that this third city will not be a defined urban centre like Parramatta and the Sydney CBD but a cluster of cities with Liverpool, Penrith and Campbelltown being the urban centres. The recent plans for Campbelltown to become a 20 storey high rise city reinforce the cluster approach.”
“Affordable housing is still somewhat unclear with statements about Affordable Rental Housing Targets but then defining this as only on rezoning uplift and subject to a viability test. The Urban Taskforce is concerned that excessive levies for affordable housing on new projects will only increase the overall cost of housing.”
“The need for the government to advocate more for apartment developments will be essential if affordable housing targets are to be met as affordable housing only comes with apartment developments and is not applied to townhouses or to detached houses.”
“The Urban Taskforce is keen to work constructively with the Greater Sydney Commission and the Department of Planning to ensure there is a positive partnership between the development industry and the government to ensure quality homes that are affordable can be built over the next 20 years along with supporting infrastructure.
Download PDF Version: GREATER SYDNEY PLAN SETS DIRECTION BUT MORE ADVOCACY FOR URBAN DENSITY NEEDED
