Croydon Leads Way as NSW Plans More TOD Precincts

Eight more Transport Oriented Development precincts have been revealed as the NSW Government indicates it will steam ahead with the plans this year with or without council input. 

So far this year plans for precincts at Ashfield, Dulwich Hill, Marrickville and Croydon in the Inner West Council area have been revealed.

The state plans to add Lake Macquarie’s Cockle Creek and North Wollongong, St Marys Metro at Penrith in April while plans for Wiley Park at Canterbury-Bankstown are due in June.

Croydon, 9km from the CBD, joined the 29-station TOD precincts identified by the NSW Government when its State Environmental Planning Policy provisions were triggered on January 31 after the Inner West Council failed to meet a state deadline to provide a masterplan with equal or greater housing outcomes.

Burwood City Council, however, took up the challenge for the section of the planned precinct under its jurisdiction, the western side of Croydon.

In its submission to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, the council detailed a “fight” to save the character of Croydon and its initial “shock” of learning of the plan for a TOD precinct in its backyard. 

Its submission to the department asked for “a refined reduced-density masterplan near Croydon Station, with unmet targets redistributed” elsewhere.

This would create new homes on the north side of the tracks in buildings up to 10 storeys, less than the state target of 3249 new homes in the same area. 

“This option does not provide the number of dwellings required by the TOD program,” the submission said. 

▲ Croydon is about 20 minutes by road west of the Sydney CBD.

“Additional dwellings will need to be provided elsewhere, for example Burwood North, subject to discussion with the NSW Government.”

The Inner West and Burwood councils will continue to decide on proposed developments in each locality unless a proposal uses a State Significant Development pathway.

NSW planning minister Paul Scully said Sydney’s inner west had always been bustling with activity and that Croydon proved an ideal strategic location for a TOD precinct.

“Burwood Council has suggested a planning solution that means more homes near a train station, near services and the community,” Scully said.

“Croydon now stands ready for an exciting new chapter in its long-storied history whereby thousands of new residents will get to experience the great cosmopolitan lifestyle this suburb offers.”

The NSW TOD program was first revealed in December of 2023 as the capital works to solve a dire housing undersupply.