According to a recent local housing study, high density apartments and low density single dwelling houses currently make up approximately 90% of the housing types in the Strathfield Council area. To cater for the evolving needs of our community, Council is currently exploring opportunities to diversify housing choices by considering all ‘missing-middle’ housing types in the Strathfield Council area.

As part of the MDHS, Strathfield Council is conducting two surveys to obtain Strathfield residents’ views on housing variety and choice within the community. So far, Strathfield Council has engaged Micromex Research to undertake an invitational telephone survey. A second, open survey, is now available via Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ page and is open until Friday 8 March 2024. The findings of both surveys will be used to inform the findings of the study.

Medium-density housing types fit between single detached houses and high rise residential flat buildings (also known as apartment buildings). Medium density housing types typically include:

• dual occupancy or semi-detached houses,
• villas,
• townhouses,
• terrace houses,
• manor houses, and
• residential flat buildings (3 to 6 storeys).

These housing types can provide suitable alternatives to better meet the needs of our diverse Strathfield community.

Some benefits associated with medium density housing may include affordability, energy savings, security and reduced maintenance when compared to single detached houses. When permitting medium density housing in appropriate locations, it will also allow residents to access local amenity, services and public transport conveniently. Medium density housing is generally considered to offer better privacy and more generous internal and external space when compared to apartment living.

Providing a wider range of housing choices allows our community members to access the above benefits by moving into a home that suits their changing needs without necessarily having to leave the area that they know and love. This might include long-standing residents wishing to downsize and stay connected to their local community or families who have outgrown apartment living.

The appropriate locations for medium density housing are currently being investigated by the study. Council is also conducting surveys to seek feedback from our community on their preferences and aspirations regarding medium density housing including desirable locations.

Council and the consultant team will review our current planning controls including the Strathfield Local Environmental Plan 2012 and Development Control Plan 2005.This review process will allow Council to develop a new set of development standards and design guidelines to ensure that new medium density development reflects the desired character and appearance of Strathfield’s suburbs while also providing high quality internal amenity to future occupants. These regulations may include maximum building heights, maximum floor space ratio, minimum setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum street frontage, maximise site coverage, minimum deep soil area, minimum solar access and the like.

A copy of the MDHS information pack is now available. You can view the information pack by clicking this link.

Council will also be hosting two drop-in sessions to discuss the study with our community face-to-face in early 2024. Information on the dates and locations of these drop-in sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Strathfield MDHS is being prepared by an independent consultant team engaged by Council, and our study commenced prior to the recent NSW Government announced changes to State planning legislation to create low-rise and mid-rise housing. Notwithstanding, Strathfield Council will submit a response to the NSW Government regarding the proposed changes.

For more information on the NSW Government’s proposed changes - click on the following link: Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to create low and mid-rise housing | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment (nsw.gov.au)

PLEASE NOTE *** The NSW Government websites are NOT maintained by Strathfield Council. Strathfield Council is not responsible for any outdated or incorrect information.

The results of the survey inform the final Micromex research report, which is one of three (3) key documents listed below:

• Draft Strathfield Medium Density Housing Strategy (SGS Economics & Planning)
• Strathfield Medium Density Urban Design Report (Architectus)
• Strathfield MDHS Community Engagement Project (Micromex Research)

A pdf copy of each document is available via the links provided.

The MDHS will be implemented through making amendments to the Strathfield Local Environmental Plan 2012 via a Planning Proposal to allow several more housing types to be built across more of the Strathfield area.

At Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 13 August 2024, Councillors endorsed a draft Planning Proposal to be prepared by the Planning and Place Team for lodgement with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for Gateway determination.

Once the Planning Proposal has been submitted to DPHI, the Department assesses the strategic and site-specific merit of a planning proposal and issues a Gateway Determination specifying if the planning proposal should proceed and whether consultation with authorities and government agencies is required.

The MDHS provides Council with base evidence to support changes to Strathfield’s existing planning controls, several recommendations of the MDHS will not be adopted.

For example, the MDHS recommendation to permit residential flat buildings (RFBs) in the R2 Low Density Residential zone has not been adopted.

While it is understood that this recommendation is to encourage a greater number of new dwellings to be built in the Strathfield area, Council has prioritised community feedback which is generally unsupportive of RFBs in the R2 zone.

Council’s Planning and Place team have commenced a review of the Strathfield Development Control Plan (DCP) – Parts A, B and C. This is the first stage in a comprehensive review of the entire Strathfield DCP.

A review of the DCP is necessary as Council must ensure development controls are appropriate to deal with evolving planning and design issues, and reflect best practice guidelines. The DCP review also aims to introduce a new structure, making it easier to use.

Council is yet to confirm a date for public exhibition, and this is dependent upon feedback from NSW Government. Following the Gateway determination, Council must review and action any required conditions imposed on the Planning Proposal by DPHI prior to public exhibition.

Council will then consult with the community, key authorities and government agencies (as required). Council will then finalise its review of the planning proposal to address conditions of Gateway determination and any submissions received from community stakeholders and any relevant agencies.

DPHI will then perform a final assessment of the planning proposal and if supported, the draft LEP (as amended) will be prepared for review and finalisation.

Once finalised, the LEP may be made, notified and come into effect.

Council will continue to provide updates via the Strathfield Council Public Notices webpage.

Submissions can be made in writing to Council during the public exhibition period. More information will be provided here in the future via the Strathfield Council Have Your Say webpage. For more information on making a submission, please refer to the Strathfield Council Community Participation Plan.

The results of the survey inform the final Micromex research report, which is one of three (3) key documents listed below:

• Draft Strathfield Medium Density Housing Strategy (SGS Economics & Planning)
• Strathfield Medium Density Urban Design Report (Architectus)
• Strathfield MDHS Community Engagement Project (Micromex Research)

A pdf copy of each document is available in the ‘Document Library’ on this page.

The MDHS will be implemented through making amendments to the Strathfield Local Environmental Plan 2012 via a Planning Proposal to allow several more housing types to be built across more of the Strathfield area. At Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 13 August 2024, Councillors endorsed a draft Planning Proposal to be prepared by the Planning and Place Team for lodgement with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for Gateway determination.

Once the Planning Proposal has been submitted to DPHI, the Department assesses the strategic and site-specific merit of a planning proposal and issues a Gateway Determination specifying if the planning proposal should proceed and whether consultation with authorities and government agencies is required.

The MDHS provides Council with base evidence to support changes to Strathfield’s existing planning controls, several recommendations of the MDHS will not be adopted. For example, the MDHS recommendation to permit residential flat buildings (RFBs) in the R2 Low Density Residential zone has not been adopted.

While it is understood that this recommendation is to encourage a greater number of new dwellings to be built in the Strathfield area, Council has prioritised community feedback which is generally unsupportive of RFBs in the R2 zone.

Council’s Planning and Place team have commenced a review of the Strathfield Development Control Plan (DCP) – Parts A, B and C. This is the first stage in a comprehensive review of the entire Strathfield DCP.

A review of the DCP is necessary as Council must ensure development controls are appropriate to deal with evolving planning and design issues, and reflect best practice guidelines. The DCP review also aims to introduce a new structure, making it easier to use.

Council is yet to confirm a date for public exhibition, and this is dependent upon feedback from NSW Government. Following the Gateway determination, Council must review and action any required conditions imposed on the Planning Proposal by DPHI prior to public exhibition.

Council will then consult with the community, key authorities and government agencies (as required). Council will then finalise its review of the planning proposal to address conditions of Gateway determination and any submissions received from community stakeholders and any relevant agencies.

DPHI will then perform a final assessment of the planning proposal and if supported, the draft LEP (as amended) will be prepared for review and finalisation.

Once finalised, the LEP may be made, notified and come into effect.

Council will continue to provide updates via the Strathfield Council Public Notices webpage.

Submissions can be made in writing to Council during the public exhibition period. More information will be provided in the future via the Strathfield Council Have Your Say webpage. For more information on making a submission, please refer to the Strathfield Council Community Participation Plan.