Congested Parramatta Road Gets 27,000 New Homes

Developers have been given the green light to build 27,000 apartments at the Homebush end of Sydney’s congested Parramatta Road.

The NSW government has accelerated the planning process along the 23km corridor of Parramatta Road—particularly the western end—which has long been earmarked for high density residential development.

The Parramatta Road Urban Transformation Strategy, released in 2016 under the now-defunct UrbanGrowth NSW, detailed potential improvements to be made to public domain amenities such as bike paths, pedestrian walkways, seating and parks.

An update to the 2016 ministerial direction will now give statutory weight to the strategy, which the state government says could eventually unlock upwards of $850 million in investment.

Minister for planning Rob Stokes said the NSW government’s planning delivery unit had worked with state agencies, councils and stakeholders to get the strategy “off the shelf” and into action.

“Parramatta Road has been a 20km scar through Sydney’s heart for far too long, but we’ve now got real momentum to transform it,” Stokes said.

“With WestConnex open, Sydney Metro West on its way, and the necessary traffic studies expected to be completed by the end of the year, we want to continue the momentum.”

Stokes said given the main road’s congestion struggles in recent years, staged development will be required in line with transport upgrades to ensure that congestion did not worsen.

Transport for NSW said a strategic business case for public transport improvements on Parramatta Road over the medium and long term were close to completion after a year-long study.

Development applications can now be progressed to public exhibition to coincide with the completion of traffic studies.

The state government expects the strategy to unlock 50,000 post-pandemic jobs and eventually 50,000 new homes over the next 20 years and 60,000 by 2050.

It would also improve public space with $200 million allocated to deliver 32 new projects including new parks, cycleways, plazas and public art.

Major projects have been moving forward at pace in Parramatta in recent years including; Walker Corporation’s $3.2 billion Parramatta Square commercial precinct and the $2.4 billion light rail.

The Parramatta Light Rail provides links with Sydney Metro West at Parramatta, Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park and the existing rail network at Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park as well as ferries at Parramatta, Rydalmere and Wentworth Point.

The state government previously announced a preferred route for the second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail that would connect stage one and Parramatta CBD to Ermington, Melrose Park, Wentworth Point and Sydney Olympic Park.

The department of planning said it will now work with relevant councils to progress the Parramatta Road Urban Transformation Strategy and lodged planning proposals already in the system for gateway determination.