Shortlisted Designers Competing To Transform Bays West Into Sydney’s Newest Suburb Revealed

The Minns Labor Government have announced the shortlist for their international design competition, set to transform Bays West into Sydney’s newest waterfront suburb. 

The six shortlisted design teams were tasked with reimagining the site into a world-class suburban precinct, complete with 8,500 new homes and a harbour foreshore open to the public for the first time in more than 100 years.

Following a highly competitive assessment process by the independent Design Advisory Panel, the competitioned, delivered by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW, has shortlisted the following teams:

Bays West Shortlisted Design Teams 

Allies and Morrison and Bates Smart, who have worked on some of the world’s most acclaimed regeneration projects such as King’s Cross in London, and closer to home, the Parramatta Metro Precinct 

Aileen Sage, MAKO Architecture, Studio Zanardo, and Gallagher Studio, who transformed Suttons Zetland, a former industrial site reimagined as a residential precinct with generous public spaces.

BVN, Cobe, and LUDO Studio: Cobe led the transformation of Nordhavn in Copenhagen and BVN and team members of LUDO worked on the new Sydney Fish Market.

Karakusevic Carson Architects, Breathe Architecture, SMM and lahznimmo: Karakusevic Carson Architects delivered the Hackney Housing Program, Breathe led Melbourne’s Nightingale Village, and SMM and lahznimmo’s the Charles Street Square waterfront precinct in Parramatta.

Herzog & de Meuron, Silvester Fuller, Michel Desvigne Paysagiste (MDP), and Buro Hapold: Herzog & de Meuron worked on London’s Tate Modern, and MDP delivered the Holterberg District in Amsterdam and Grasbrook in Hamburg.

Mandaworks, BKK Architects, Offcuts and Merri Studio: Mandaworks transformed Kolkajen in Stockholm and developed the Hiedenranta Bay masterplan in Finland.

The Next Bays West Competition Phase

Now, each of the shortlisted teams will be tasked with developing an Urban Framework for Bays West, with the shortlisted design submissions and winning entry expected to be publicly exhibited in early 2027.

“We’re looking forward to seeing bold and innovative ideas that will help deliver thousands of new homes, world-class public spaces and new connections to Sydney Harbour,” said Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully.

“The calibre of teams shortlisted for the Bays West International Design Competition reflects the premier location and significance of this project and the opportunity to help shape Sydney’s newest waterfront suburb.”

Similarly, Chief Executive Bays West Delivery Authority Anita Mitchell called the competition a “once-in-a-genration” opportunity for Bays West.

“The six shortlisted teams bring together some of the world’s leading expertise in city-making, urban renewal and placemaking,” said Mitchell, “making this an exciting milestone in the transformation of the precinct.

“We look forward to seeing how they respond to the extraordinary opportunity Bays West presents and the ideas they bring forward for the future of this remarkable part of Sydney.”

Community Backlash

As the competition moves into this next phase with seemingly complete support from the Minns Labor Government, others are less enthused by the prospect, among them, Better Future Coalition member Dom Quigley.

“There has been a complete lack of consultation with residents, and the idea of running a competition for developers to submit their preferred development proposals is no substitute for engagement with local residents,” Quigley told CityHub. 

Similarly, Greens Member for Balmain Kobi Shetty has criticised the competition, arguing the Minns Labor Government “has a responsibility to ensure that the large swathe of publicly owned land at Bays West delivers real public benefit as they look to develop the area into a new precinct.” 

“At this stage, the Government is planning to deliver a measly 10 per cent ‘affordable housing’ and no public homes on the site,” said Shetty. “In a housing affordability crisis of this scale, that is a total dereliction of duty.”

“The community has made it clear that they expect this land to be used to deliver homes people can actually afford to live in. Without significantly more public and social housing, it is going to become an enclave for the rich.”