ApartmentsHarrison CaithnessMon 07 Sep 26
NSW Scheme for 13,000 Homes at Westmead South Goes Public
Plans to rezone a neighbourhood in Sydney’s west to make way for 13,000 homes have gone public.
The NSW Government scheme for the site neighbouring a major health precinct at Westmead South would create a 125ha walkable precinct offering between 3 and 5 per cent of homes as affordable.
Westmead South on Dharug land is about 26km west of the CBD and 1.5km from the Parramatta CBD. It is bounded by the T1 Western train line to the north and Great Western Highway to the south.
The Westmead Children’s Hospital and health precinct is less than a kilometre north across the track.
The proposed Westmead South Precinct site currently is primarily a low-to-medium density residential neighborhood and commercial hub.
The precinct was given state significant status and fast-tracked alongside three other rezoning projects a year ago.
It proposes a mid to high-density mixed precinct with 2.9ha of public open space and the transformation of Hawkesbury Road into a pedestrian spine.
The proposal would amend the Cumberland Local Environment Plan 2021 to allow building heights from 2 to 38 storeys (128m), an almost four-fold increase on the existing eight storey (26m) limit.
The tallest buildings would rise over the proposed Sydney Metro West’s yet-to-be-built Westmead Metro Station.
The new 24km underground train line is expected to complete in 2032 and would terminate at Westmead, linking Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.
Floor space ratios would range from 0.8:1 up to 5.1:1 around the future Westmead Metro Station, doubling the existing maximum 2.5:1.
The Cumberland City Council unveiled a 7000-home masterplan for Westmead South in 2024.
The state approved a 10,000-home rezoning at Cherrybrook in Sydney’s North West last month.
The Hills councillors at Cherrybrook expressed concerns about the lack of planning for future school infrastructure and excessive density.
At Westmead, the NSW Department of Education has proposed to lock in land for a future school at Ralph and Houison streets, the previous site of the recently relocated Sacred Heart Primary School.
Cumberland mayor Ola Hamed said she was pleased the proposal included plans for a future school.
“The NSW Government rezoning plans will help to progress the vision outlined in the council’s masterplan for the area,” she said.
Planning minister Paul Scully said the state was doubling housing capacity “in one of Sydney’s best located precincts” at Westmead.
"The Westmead South Precinct has everything a community needs close by,” he said.
The area is currently home to about 8700 people across more than 3000 homes.
The NSW Government’s Westmead South plan is on exhibition until September 16 and is expected to be finalised next year.
