Central Sydney planning framework

While Covid-19 is impacting our lives, our jobs and the economy, there is also a place for us to continue with good and thoughtful planning for our city's recovery and future livelihoods.

The planning framework provides a clear path for investment to help rebuild business confidence and support jobs in small and large businesses. It considers commercial development, hotel and visitor accommodation, cultural uses and retail alongside residential living.

Our Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision identifies a key goal of nurturing a competitive global Sydney. This updated framework aims to ensure Central Sydney maintains its role as Australia’s most productive and attractive city. It’s the first major review of the Central Sydney planning framework in 45 years and took years of study. 

Key changes include:

Our city’s growth will need to be accompanied by new supporting infrastructure. To assist, a new contributions plan will help fund new and upgraded public spaces and infrastructure. This approach will improve and retain Sydney’s attractiveness as Australia’s premier business district and global city.

Where will these changes apply?

To clarify the areas covered by each of the documents, the map shows an area shaded pink – this is where changes are proposed to the planning controls and development contributions plan. Areas shaded green are where changes are proposed to the development contributions plan only.

The area where the proposed Central Sydney planning controls and development contributions plan will apply covers Central station at the southern end of the city to Circular Quay at the northern most boundary. The eastern boundary covers The Domain and Hyde Park. The western boundary covers Observatory Hill, King Street Wharf and then follows Sussex Street south to Chinatown and Haymarket.

Only changes to the development contributions plan will apply to Barangaroo, Millers Point, Woolloomooloo Wharf and Garden Island in the northern part of the city. This area also applies to businesses on the southern side of Oxford Street and along Elizabeth Street to Central station. This area also covers the Central Park development area on the southern side of Broadway and Prince Alfred Park.

Public consultation

We invited your feedback over 10 weeks from 1 May 2020 to 10 July 2020, extended from 4 weeks due to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thanks for your feedback on this new planning framework. We received more than 87 submissions, 100 people participated in online sessions and 94 people completed online surveys.

All matters raised in written submissions and consultation activities were considered.

Council meeting

Council endorsed the draft Central Sydney planning framework of documents at its meeting on Monday 14 December 2020.

You can view the meeting documents and meeting minutes (see item 8.3 and information relevant to item 8.3).

Next steps

The City of Sydney will lodge the planning proposal with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to start the drafting and plan making process. Once completed the amendment to Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 will come into effect when published on the NSW legislation website.

The City of Sydney will request the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces amend the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 to allow a contributions levy of up to 3% to be applied to new development. The new Central Sydney development contributions plan 2020 will begin on the date the amendment to Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 is made, or shortly thereafter.

All other documents such as the amendment to Sydney Development Control Plan 2012 and competitive design policy will come into effect on the date the local environmental plan is made.

The guideline for site specific planning proposals in Central Sydney will be used to assist proponents prepare planning proposals in Central Sydney.