Communities expect great results alongside more housing density. This requires local nous informing spatial plans together with encouragement from State Government.
The Inner West Council recently released exhibition documents for their Our Fairer Future Plan, a package of local urban policies responding to the State Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) and Low and Mid Rise (LMR) policies which have been introduced over the past two years. The local proposal was prompted by these policies and is forecast to exceed the level of housing production which they are expected to deliver – while considering local places through a master-planning process.
PIA is pleased to see this deliberative process occurring between local and State Government. State Government policies have been a call-to-action and raised the need for a metro-wide focus on well-located housing. Inner West have recognised the importance of these issues and responded with a carefully crafted set of local alternatives which study and respond to the local urban structure and places which they know best.
Big-picture priorities can be dealt with local finesse. PIA has continually supported integrating master-planning within the TOD and LMR policies where this work can be progressed rapidly since early 2023. Acquisitions for open space, incentives for site amalgamation and building performance, and urban design guidance are all key parts of the proposed package which should result in a more cohesive total outcome.
A potential benefit of curated local plans is that conflicts such as applying the TOD and LMR controls in heritage conservation areas can be clarified upfront, allowing a smoother and less arbitrated process at the assessment stage. Inserting the proposed controls into LEPs would also provide a more straightforward process for finding the planning controls applying to a site.
PIA is also pleased to see a consistent approach to affordable housing contributions included in the Our Fairer Future Plan. PIA has previously joined with other peak groups calling for consistent contribution arrangements between TOD and LMR areas.
PIA spoke to Daniel East MPIA, Senior Manager – Strategic Planning at Inner West Council about the planning approach, who stated:
“Council has played a leadership role in the delivery of new homes by setting a new innovative planning framework that carefully responds to the character of the Inner West.
The planning work aims to retain and manage the unique character of the Inner West while providing new housing and job opportunities. This includes offsetting densities from areas of high character value and recommending development controls through changes to zoning, height and density.”
Once exhibition is complete and any final changes made, the Our Fairer Future Plan will be submitted to the State Government for fast-tracked implementation.
Source: Inner West Council
05/06/2025