Green Light for 500-Home BtR at Sydney’s Regents Park

A proposal for more than 500 build-to-rent apartments in western Sydney has been given the go-ahead after downsizing its affordable housing component. 

Concept proposals for the 30-46 Auburn Road site at Regents Park, a suburb in the Canterbury Bankstown local government area 22km west of Sydney CBD, were filed in 2023.

The applicant is listed as 30 Auburn Road Pty Ltd, a company associated with Anthony Crane and Raad Holdings.

To be delivered over four stages, the plans detail five buildings with an estimated development cost of $196 million. The value of construction was estimated at $129 million in 2023.

The development would deliver up to 558 apartments, plus childcare and retail components for 55,042sq m of gross floor area. 

Planned are 135 one, 334 two and 89 three-bedroom apartments. 

The building envelopes would be up to 13 storeys, with 15 per cent of GFA as affordable housing—about 60 apartments.

This is a considerable mark down from initial proposals that allocated 50 per cent of the units (about 260) as affordable.

▲ A rendering of the Regents Park build-to-rent project designed by Smith & Tzannes Architects.

The amendment report said that the change was a result of the introduction of infill affordable housing reforms, allowing a floor space ratio and height bonus for the allocation of at least 10 per cent of gross floor area (GFA) to affordable. 

The provisions were intended to “encourage private developers to boost affordable housing and deliver more market housing,” according to the NSW Government.

The provision of affordable housing allows an additional 2050sq m of floor area, or about 15 additional units.

The report said the development was now “in line” with the reforms. 

Parking is provided for 707 cars, and there is provision of a minimum of 3000sq m of open space in the centre of the site, with internal roads and an urban plaza. 

As part of its voluntary planning agreement, the central courtyard would be made publicly available, and the developer would be responsible for upgrading pedestrian crossings and bus stops surrounding the development. 

▲ A rendering of the approved project that will deliver about 500 apartments.

The 21,170sq m site now houses three warehouse buildings up to three storeys, described as an “underutilised, decaying cluster”. 

Initial plans went on exhibition in 2022. An amended report went up for public consultation in 2024—both replaced a previously approved concept for eight buildings of up to three storeys and 137 apartments. 

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment when it approved that proposal said the project would be in the public interest, given it would deliver well-located housing, 500m from the centre of Regents Park and a train station, and included affordable housing and publicly available open spaces. 

The Auburn Road project is the latest in a series of masterplans for the Canterbury Bankstown area that include Holdmark Property Group’s eight-tower, 515-apartment complex at Chester Square.

The proposals come as the LGA targets 14,500 new homes by 2029 as part of its allocation of the state’s National Housing Accord promises.