Ultimo-Pyrmont Review Prepares Way for 4000 Homes

Toga Group’s headquarters at Ultimo is among sites under scrutiny as the City of Sydney reviews local planning controls.

The proposed changes to those controls could unlock 4000 more homes and 23,000 jobs in the Sydney CBD.

The Ultimo and Pyrmont planning controls are now open for community consultation. Regulations around six blocks plus several dozen other sites in the area are included in the review.

The City of Sydney, which has been working on the plans since May, 2022, met with landowners and the community to draft changes to Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012.

Groups that stand to benefit from the changes include the Pyrmont Bay Group owner’s collection of properties on Union, Murray and Edward streets that include Mirvac.

This block would be opened up to three towers of up to 21 storeys for commercial use and more than 7000 jobs.

The Quarry Master Drive Group’s collection on the Bank Street side could gain more than 800 apartments and a commercial tower, while the Wattle Street Group would gain a staggered commercial tower at 28-54 Wattle Street, next to Toga’s headquarters.

▲ The City of Sydney planning controlled sites under consideration are highighted in yellow and orange while the state-controlled sites are in grey.

John Street Group would be able to build a commercial tower of 10 to 12 storeys at 48 Pirrama Road, creating 1790 jobs.

The changes to the LEP and Development Control Plan 2012 have been proposed to meet the NSW Government’s Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy.

That strategy would allow increased floorspace and height for new homes in apartment buildings, mixed-use buildings and smaller lots.

There are also proposed changes to increase commercial projects to align with increased demand in the region. 

▲ One of the sites that could have the option to upscale is the Pyrmont Bay Group properties on Edward, Murray and Union streets, and Pirrama Road.

Footpaths and publicly accessible space would be widened to provide space for 250 more trees. The city also outlined its desire for 2000sq m of green rooftops.

To pave the way for development, the city is also introducing a new local infrastructure contributions plan outlined in the “have your say” phase of the process.

The NSW Government has previously changed planning controls for development at The Star Entertainment Group Hotel, two over-station developments for the new Pyrmont Metro and an Indigenous residential college.