NSW Government Proposes To Build 9,400 New Homes In Woollahra and Edgecliff

The NSW Government has revealed a rezoning proposal which would allow for 9,400 new homes to be built in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs of Woollahra and Edgecliff, a mere six kilometres from the CBD.

These new dwellings will be concentrated around the existing Edgecliff Station and the new Woollahra Station, with up to 40 percent of new dwellings to be located within 200 metres of a train station. Once Woollahra Station becomes operational in 2029, it will connect people on the T4 Eastern Suburbs Line to the Sydney CBD in just eight minutes.

The proposal follows a NSW Productivity Commission that found the 68-hectares of prime land were the most promising site for housing development in NSW, despite housing approvals in Woollahra consistently lagging well behind other Local Government Areas.

Edgecliff Woollahra Precinct Proposal: The Highlights

The draft proposal, which will be on public exhibition until 7 October, includes plans for an affordable housing contribution base rate of 3% in perpetuity, increasing up to 15% for certain sites; higher-density housing and commercial spaces of up to 34 storeys around Edgecliff Station and 32 storeys around Woollahra Station; and a larger retail centre at Edgecliff and a new Woollahra local centre.

Alongside providing local facilities and services, these commercial and community developments are expected to create up to 1,000 jobs. 

The draft proposal also seeks to preserve local heritage items; provide approximately 3.5 hectares of new and upgraded public open space across 7 new parks, 6 existing parks, and plaza; and install up to 9km of new walking and cycling paths.

“For the last decade, we’ve asked a small number of communities to carry the lion’s share of Sydney’s housing growth while other parts of the city have barely changed,” said Premier of NSW Chris Minns.

“We can’t keep pushing all of Sydney’s growth to the west and the urban fringe while established suburbs close to jobs, transport and services are locked away from new housing.

“We’re not asking Woollahra to solve the housing crisis on its own. We’re asking Woollahra to make a fair contribution, just as we’re asking communities right across Sydney to do.”

Minister for Housing, Rose Jackson, has stressed the importance of this development for young people during NSW’s cost-of-living crisis.

“We’re doing this for our young people and for our essential workers, who have felt the dream of living and working in the greatest city in the world slipping through their fingers,” said Jackson.

“Importantly, this includes affordable housing so that people on lower incomes don’t get locked out.”