Council extends City Plan submissions

The deadline for submissions to Council’s draft planning controls has been extended by three weeks following requests by the public for more time to have their say.

The new City Plan is a set of planning controls that will guide future development throughout the Local Government Area (LGA).

The Plan will help plan sustainability for a growing population while protecting heritage while providing 55,000 new homes by 2031.

City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone said the City Plan will cover issues such as zoning, building height, density, parking, design, heritage protection and sustainable growth.

“The City Plan provides for high quality, sustainable development, which is central to the vitality, livability and culture of our city,” she said.

“[It] is the result of more than five years of work, including more than 40 studies, reviews and research projects and more than 100 public meetings, forums, workshops and presentations to the community and business.”

According to Council, the new Planning Controls will help reach the City’s targets within the state government’s Metropolitan Strategy of 55,000 new homes and 58,000 new jobs by 2031.

The City Plan also aims to list an extra 53 heritage items, propose a new heritage conservation area in Millers Point, and require design competitions for major new developments.

It also includes incentives to activate inner city laneways with retail outlets such as small bars, encourages new commercial buildings to include showers and bicycle parking and streamlines approval processes for businesses applying for outdoor dining licenses on footpaths.

The Plan has been prepared to meet new state government planning guidelines and will simplify planning processes in the City of Sydney.

After endorsement last September, the Plans have been on exhibition from February 2 and Council’s new Planning Controls propose consolidation of more than 60 Local Environmental Plans and Development Control Plans that currently exist.

Written submissions on the draft plan will now be accepted until April 21.