The New South Wales government has released a draft of its Sydney Plan, which will replace the 2018 Greater Sydney Region Plan once finalised. The vision will guide the city’s growth of jobs and housing over the next two decades, by which time it is forecast to grow more than 23 percent to accommodate an extra 1.2 million people.
Covering 33 local government areas, the plan organises the population into a distributed network of 43 interconnected centres, anchored by the Sydney and Parramatta CBDs as well as the new Bradfield City Centre.
A press release from the NSW government notes, “It delivers clear direction on how and where new jobs and homes should be located to make living in the city more affordable while driving the growth of Australia’s largest economy.”
The release notes “Key proposed changes include:
- Better aligning infrastructure to planned growth for both infill and greenfield development
- Increasing the supply of well-located jobs by delivering more guidance to councils on employment categories that suit their area
- Protecting and enhancing the natural environment by bringing contemporary environmental management approaches into the planning process early and delivering more urban greening
- Making affordable housing contribution schemes mandatory for all councils, so every part of Sydney is doing its part to create a more affordable city.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the plan builds on the government’s work “to rebalance growth and reshape the planning system so it is fit for purpose and ready to meet today’s challenges.”
This includes prioritising transport-oriented development and low- and mid-rise housing around public transport to improve access to well-located homes and reduce sprawl.
In Scully’s view, the government’s work “continues to drive Sydney’s economic and residential growth, while also enabling a city filled with the kind of vibrancy that attracts international jobs, knowledge and industry.”
The draft Sydney Plan is the first of four new region plans that will set out strategies and major policy reforms in housing, affordable housing, industrial lands, infrastructure delivery, vibrancy and resilience for the state.
The draft plan is open for public comment on the NSW government’s website until 27 February 2026.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
