Planning for Growth

The State Government has an integrated vision for strategic planning and infrastructure in NSW, you can find more information in these three planning documents:

• A Metropolis of Three Cities - Greater Sydney Region Plan, Greater Sydney Commission 
• Future Transport 2056, Transport for NSW
• Building Momentum - State Infrastructure Strategy 2018-2038, Infrastructure New South Wales

 
Greater Sydney Commission 

The Greater Sydney Commission is responsible for metropolitan planning in Sydney.

Sydney is split into five districts, each with their own district plan; Burwood is in the Eastern City District. View the Eastern City District Plan.

Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy

The Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy is the NSW Government’s 30-year plan to drive and inform land use planning and development decisions as well as long-term infrastructure delivery programs in the Parramatta Road Corridor.

There are eight renewal precincts along the Parramatta Road Corridor. Part of the Burwood-Concord Precinct and Kings Bay Precinct lie within Burwood.

Canada Bay and Strathfield Councils, who also have land in the Parramatta Road Corridor, together with Burwood, have identified the need for additional urban design, traffic and transportation investigations. The three Councils consider this as essential work to ensure that all future decisions to rezone land are made with a thorough understanding of the potential cumulative impacts and will achieve orderly, transparent, and consistent development, and above all, the highest quality planning and design outcomes.

As of December 2021, the three Councils are continuing to working toward finalising the Traffic and Transport Study together with Transport for New South Wales. Council’s consultant has progressed its traffic modelling work and is nearing completion of this.

Council will be able to advance the precinct wide studies once the strategic traffic modelling is completed and Council can assessment and further test the future implications and necessary improvements to the local road network.

This along with a suite of other planning studies will form part of the Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan review. More details are available on this page and on Participate Burwood.

You can find more information on Landcoms website.

Sydney Metro West

Sydney Metro West is an underground metro line which will connect Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.

Works have commenced on construction of the station directly to the north of the Burwood Local Government Area known as the ‘Burwood North’ Station. A pedestrian entrance to this station will be located on the corner of Burwood Road and Parramatta Road providing underground pedestrian entrance to the main station.

Burwood Council is working collaboratively with Sydney Metro and Transport for New South Wales in the planning and design of this railway line and station.

You can find more information on the Sydney Metro website.

Useful Websites

• Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, which governs State and regional planning, legislation relating to pollution and the environment, and develops policies in relation to air quality, climate change and water. The website provides information on metropolitan strategies, State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) and initiatives to streamline the planning system.
• Greater Sydney Commission is leading metropolitan planning in Sydney. Key projects are the Greater Sydney Region Plan: A Metropolis of Three Cities and the District Plans.
• NSW Legislation provides access to all NSW legislation (acts, regulations and environmental planning instruments).
• Environment, Energy and Science Group (DPIE), which includes the majority of the former Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Energy team from the former Energy, Water and Portfolio Strategy Division in Department of Planning and Environment, and the Resources Regulator. The Heritage functions of OEH have moved to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
• Heritage NSW (Department of Premier and Cabinet), which has responsibility for Aboriginal cultural heritage, State Heritage Register listings and approvals, archaeology and maritime heritage, grants delivery and activation.
• Transport for NSW (former Roads and Maritime Services), which is responsible for the maintenance and development of the roads and traffic systems of NSW, in conjunction with state and local government agencies.
• National Parks and Wildlife Service, which administers legislation for National Parks, threatened species and Aboriginal sites.
• Government Architect NSW, (GANSW) which provides strategic design leadership in architecture, urban design and landscape architecture. Has important design documents such as Better Placed, Greener Places and Designing with Country.
• For all other Government-related enquiries at the State level, go to the State Government website

SEPPs relevant to the Burwood LGA can be viewed by clicking on the following links:

• SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008
• SEPP (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009
• SEPP No. 65 – Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development
• SEPP (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004
• SEPP No. 64 – Advertising and Signage
• SEPP (Building Sustainability Index: BASIX) 2004 
• SEPP (Infrastructure) 2007
• SEPP (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas) 2017

 The LSPS can be viewed here

What is a Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS)?

Our LSPS is an important tool for local strategic planning and guides land use planning. Over the next 20 years the LSPS will inform local statutory plans and development controls, and give effect to regional and district plans. The LSPS also identifies where further strategic planning effort may be needed and shape's how the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) will evolve over time. Council assesses planning proposals against the statement to decide whether or not to support them.

The LSPS identifies actions that respond to and build on the place and community’s strengths and potential.

Background:

Council’s LSPS received a letter of support from the Greater Sydney Commission on 12 March 2020. It was subsequently published on the NSW Planning Portal on 18 March 2020 which completes the approval process. This follows a program of community engagement in August and September 2019 on the draft LSPS.

The draft LSPS was on public exhibition for a six-week period from 13 August to 16 September 2019 for review and comment.

All submissions and feedback were reviewed and analysed to inform the final version of the LSPS that was endorsed by Council at the Council meeting of 11 February 2020.

In the lead up to the preparation of the LSPS, Council commissioned seven technical studies to inform priorities and actions:

• Traffic and Transport Study
• Community Facilities and Open Space Strategy
• Local Housing Strategy
• Urban Design Strategy and Masterplan
• Local Employment and Investment Strategy
• Resilience Strategy
• Smart Cities Strategy

These studies are in the process of being finalised and will be published on this website once complete.

While the LSPS will be the over-arching document presenting the desired land use future for the Burwood local government area, the Burwood Local Environmental Plan (LEP) sets out the specific zonings and local planning controls that will inform, guide and control development in the local government area.

The LEP has been updated as part of a housekeeping LEP amendment during 2021 to implement the LSPS vision, priorities and actions.

A further LEP amendment as part of a comprehensive LEP amendment is planned for 2022-2023 to incorporate changes to the Burwood North Precinct. Opportunities will be available for feedback and community engagement in the lead up to and during the public exhibition. 

For more information about the Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan review please visit Participate Burwood.

The Burwood Local Environmental Plan 2012 (BLEP) is the statutory land use planning legislation for the Burwood LGA.

If you wish to amend the BLEP, a planning proposal must be submitted to Council for consideration, followed by submission to State government for approval.

Burwood Local Environmental Plan 2012

A planning proposal is a legal planning process. If approved, it may amend the zoning, heights, floor space ratio, permissible land uses or other provisions of the BLEP.

Department of Planning, Industry and Environments website

How do I apply?

A planning proposal needs to include some very detailed information. To ensure your application is comprehensive Council strongly recommends you engage a qualified planning professional to prepare your proposal. Your planner can advise you about the specialist advice necessary to support the planning proposal.

Pre-Planning Proposal Meeting

Council is able to provide advice on the application in a pre-planning proposal meeting. There is a fee for this meeting.

Planning Proposal Application

Planning proposals must be prepared in accordance with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s a guide to preparing planning proposals.

How much does it cost?

The fee for a planning proposal application covers assessment, reporting, community notifications, State agency consultation, documentation for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, review of submissions and progression of the planning proposal to finalisation. Please refer to Council’s fees and charges for more information. 

Planning Portal with previously exhibited planning proposals

Department of Planning Industry and Environments LEP Tracking page

The Housekeeping LEP completed in mid-2021 focused on:

1. Rezoning land in Livingstone Street and Sym Avenue Burwood with corresponding building height and floor space ratio (FSR) standards and additional local provisions.

2. Applying R2 Low Density Residential zone to a majority of properties on the northern side of Mitchell Street Enfield within the Mitchell and Kembla Streets Heritage Conservation Area (HCA).

3. Updating the Heritage Schedule and Heritage Map in the BLEP to reflect the correct street address, lot and deposited plan numbers and land parcel for the heritage item of the former Masonic Temple building at 45 Belmore Street Burwood.

The main change proposed by the Housekeeping LEP review was to recommend changes to the Livingstone Street Precinct. Close to the town centre, this was an area identified as suitable for new residential development. This precinct has been an important first step for Council in rezoning and setting development standards for suitable urban infill locations across the LGA that will support improved housing diversity and choice for the community.

Gateway Determination was received on 8 June 2021.

Council has commenced the Comprehensive LEP amendment process with a first round of consultation on Burwood North Precinct principles undertaken in October/November 2021. The expected date of completion of the Comprehensive BLEP amendment is in late 2023. For more information see the next section below.

The aim of the Comprehensive LEP is to undertake detailed investigation to test potential density, land use and urban design outcomes in identified areas across the LGA.

This will be supported by a number of supporting studies such as:

• Burwood Urban Design Study and Masterplan (Internal document)

• Burwood Local Housing Strategy

• Burwood Local Employment and Investment Strategy (Internal document)

• State government Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy (PRCUTS)

 The lessons learnt during the Housekeeping LEP amendment and the outcome of the consultation on the Burwood North Precinct principles provided insights for other areas in the LGA, namely the Burwood North Precinct in the provision of opportunities for affordable housing and promoting a variety of housing choices in appropriate locations.

Council commenced consultation on the Burwood North Precinct stage 1 principles in October and November 2021. More information is available on Participate Burwood here.

Outcomes and submissions received as part of stage 1 consultation will be reported to Council in a Council meeting in early 2022.

The Burwood North Precinct is a key urban renewal precinct close to the Burwood Town Centre. With the announcement confirming the location of the new Burwood North Metro Station, Council is making sure to collaborate with Sydney Metro in the planning of this station.

This will build upon work already undertaken for the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy (PRCUTS). This recognising the potential for the precinct to become an exciting and vibrant destination supported by the excellent public transport links to Sydney CBD and Parramatta provided by Sydney Metro. 

This will form part of the Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan review.

Council commenced consultation on the stage 1 principles in October and November 2021. Outcomes and submissions received as part of stage 1 consultation will be reported to Council in a Council meeting in early 2022.

More information is available on Participate Burwood. 

Further work will be undertaken with a Development Control Plan (DCP) review and Local Infrastructure Contributions Plans review.

This is scheduled to commence in mid-2022.

In October 2021 Council launched Participate Burwood. This is a dedicated community consultation site for all Burwood Council projects.

Consultation for the Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan review is being done on Participate Burwood.

Participate Burwood can be accessed here.

Please register to Participate Burwood and follow Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan review 2021-2023.

Council will also be making regular updates and providing information to the community on important steps in the LEP review process. This will include social media, website updates and correspondence to affected land owners. 

To receive updates via email, please subscribe to our E-Newsletter