Plans to rezone an inner-west Sydney Metro precinct are paving the way for the delivery of 15,000 homes.
The NSW Government said it would “take the lead” in rezoning the Burwood North Metro Precinct, a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create a new precinct just four stations from the Sydney CBD.
The state said it would develop a draft masterplan with the Burwood and Canada Bay councils to be exhibited in the first half of 2026 and followed by a final precinct masterplan.
Development applications could then be lodged under the new planning controls.
The NSW Government rezoning plans build on existing masterplans by the two councils.
The Burwood Council’s existing masterplan was developed after the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy (PRCUTS) was released in November of 2016. It approved the construction of Sydney Metro West connecting the CBD to Westmead.
It aimed to focus on “high-amenity living” for low-income families through to high-skilled workers, encourage activation and a “pedestrian-first” transport network.
The Burwood masterplan was adopted in 2024. The council resolved to amend it in January this year as part of an alternative response to the state’s Croydon TOD program, redistributing unmet home capacity targets to the Burwood North precinct.
The latest state government-led rezoning will be sent to the State Significant Rezoning Pathway, which aims to fast-track rezoning projects that have been delayed in the planning system.
The rezoning decision, which follows hot on the heels of the rezoning of the first tranche of government-owned land, Broadmeadow at Newcastle, last week and at Blacktown in June, as well as other significant rezoning projects, was welcomed by the industry.
Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest said he had been “dumbfounded” that new Metro station precincts had not been nominated as accelerated Transport-Oriented Development (TOD) sites.
“Burwood Council, in particular, have been leading the charge for high-density and urban renewal in the Burwood North Metro precinct, while Canada Bay Council has been slower to get with the program on housing supply. Perhaps now, with the support of DPHI, they can get on board,” he said.
Forrest called on the state to initiate a similar rezoning for Five Dock station as well as the entire Parramatta Road Corridor between Lidcombe and Broadway.
“This is a great initiative at Burwood North which makes good sense, so why stop there?” he said.
