International Design Competition Launched For Sydney’s New Bays West Suburb

The NSW Government has launched an international design competition to help shape the future Bays West precinct in Sydney’s inner west, covering White Bay, Glebe Island, Rozelle Bay and surrounding industrial lands.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW and will seek design teams from Australia and overseas to develop an urban framework for the area, including street layout, public spaces and building heights.

It follows the government’s vision to transform the precinct into a waterfront residential and public space, with up to 8,500 homes planned and at least 10 per cent designated as affordable and essential worker housing. Public access to the harbour foreshore is expected to increase as part of the redevelopment, while some deep-water port functions are retained.

The competition will run in two stages, beginning with expressions of interest followed by an invitation-only paid design phase. A panel chaired by the Government Architect NSW will assess submissions and provide recommendations to the NSW Government for final decision-making.

The Minister for Planning and Public Space Paul Scully said the competition marks a new stage for the precinct’s development. “This is the start of the next chapter for Bays West and the International Design competition will make sure we get this transformation right,” he said.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the initiative represents a major opportunity to shape a new waterfront suburb. “This is an exciting moment for a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new suburb on the city’s edge and open up the Harbour foreshore to the public,” he said.

Government Architect NSW Abbie Galvin said the process will help unlock design ideas and inform the precinct’s urban framework, including housing, open space and transport integration. “The Bays West International Design Competition is a powerful way to help unlock creative ideas and realise the full potential of the Bays West renewal area by inviting a range of insights and expertise from local and international designers,” she said.

The winning team will contribute to ongoing precinct development and future planning outcomes for Bays West precinct.