As part of the Chatswood development, 180 build-to-rent apartments will be offered to essential workers at a discount to market rent, through a separate subsidy.

The NSW Government will retain ownership of the build-to-rent properties, which will be managed by a suitable operator.

Homes NSW is supporting Landcom to develop an operational model and determine processes for tenant allocation and rental subsidies. This work will firm up essential worker ‘eligibility’. Further information will be made available closer to project completion.

Essential workers like nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers and firefighters provide invaluable services to people across NSW. Without them, NSW would grind to a halt, but many are being priced out of the market and can’t afford to live near their jobs.

Through a $450 million investment from the NSW Government, Landcom will deliver 400 build-to-rent homes for essential workers to rent at a discount to market rent in Sydney, closer to their jobs and services.

This is the second site of the program, providing 180 homes. The other site Landcom is developing is a vacant site at Annandale, which will provide 220 homes. 

As a NSW Government owned development organisation, Landcom is well suited to coordinate planning, approvals and construction of these projects.

Essential workers include professions like nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers and firefighters.

Homes NSW is supporting Landcom to develop an operational model and determine processes for tenant allocation and rental subsidies. This work will firm up essential worker ‘eligibility’. Further information will be made available closer to project completion.

We are seeking to deliver affordable housing options at Chatswood in two ways:

• 180 build-to-rent apartments (approximately 13% of total apartments onsite) will be made available to essential workers via subsidy at a discount to market rent
• up to 5% of apartments in other buildings onsite will be set aside as affordable rental housing for at least 15 years, with delivery subject to approvals and financing. Affordable rental housing is for a mix of low or moderate-income households. Rent is discounted so that residents can meet other basic living costs, such as food, clothing, transport, medical care and education. 

To support the NSW Government’s efforts to tackle the housing crisis, we want to make the best use of valuable surplus government land to deliver new public spaces and as many homes as possible near transport, jobs and services.

For Stage 1 of the development, we are seeking approval to deliver a 23-storey build-to-rent building with 180 apartments for essential workers to rent at a discount. The build-to-rent building will be located in the northeast corner of the site to maximise solar access to the proposed central green.  
We are continuing concept planning and engaging key stakeholders, like Willoughby City Council, to inform plans for the broader site (Stage 2).

Applications for Stage 2 will include a proposal to rezone to enable taller buildings which, subject to further planning and future detailed design, could range in height up to 56 storeys (up to 180m).  

A design excellence approach is being applied so that future buildings are visually appealing and positioned to reduce visual bulk and overshadowing, while maximising solar access and cross ventilation for future residents. Buildings will be set back from local roads and have landscaped public spaces and pedestrian laneways. They will be tall with a narrow profile so that shadows move quickly.

The proposal aligns with long-term plans for major transformation in the Chatswood CBD and is in keeping with taller buildings and future potential developments in the area.

ABS data shows that many households in the Chatswood area don’t own a car or have only one car, with more people walking, cycling or using public transport for their commute than is typical across Sydney. This is especially common for households living in apartments, which tend to have fewer people.

Assessments show that local roads will have capacity for traffic generated by the proposed development.  

As the site is well-located, future residents are likely to rely less on cars as they can walk, cycle and use public transport to reach work, nearby shops and services.

A shared zone will provide pedestrians with priority over cars in public spaces. The interface between shared zone and vehicle traffic will be carefully managed through visible crossings and landscape treatments.  

Parking will be provided in accordance with planning controls.  

We are continuing concept planning and engaging key stakeholders like Willoughby City Council and Transport for NSW to inform the plans for the broader site, while minimising impacts on the neighbourhood.  

We are optimising vacant land in the Chatswood CBD that’s well connected to public transport, jobs and infrastructure to respond to the housing crisis and fund new high-quality public open spaces and restoration of Mowbray House for community use.

The proposal aligns with the character of the Chatswood CBD and long-term plans for its transformation. 

Proposed setbacks and landscaped public spaces will separate buildings and help to reduce overshadowing, while providing future residents with adequate privacy and sunlight.

We are consulting Willoughby City Council and other government agencies including Heritage NSW to minimise impacts of the proposed development on the neighbourhood and nearby heritage buildings. 

We recognise our projects fundamentally transform Country forever and we can deliver our projects in a respectful and considerate way to celebrate the uniqueness of each place.

The site is on Gamaragal land. We are working with local First Nations stakeholders to inform design principles to guide project design and development.

Key principles include:  

• recognition of Country through landscaping and native plants 
• a sense of Country through green and landscaped spaces where people can walk and meander 
• a green heart at the centre of the community where people can gather
• opportunity for First Nations public art.   

Opportunities to bring these principles to life include: 

• Songline Walk along the Pacific Highway 
• East and West Country connection through the site 
• 6 Seasons Thinking 
• Reflecting Sky Country - Emu In The Sky.  

We are planning to create a neighbourhood that is better for people and the planet. The new neighbourhood will be low-carbon, full of nature, and a great place to live, work and connect.  

What we are doing for sustainability  

• Less waste - most construction and demolition waste will be reused or recycled – keeping it out of landfill.  
• Better materials - all timber used will be certified and sustainably sourced.
• Preserving history – restoring heritage-listed Mowbray House will provide opportunities for future community use.
• Greener streets and parks - more trees and green spaces will help cool the area, clean the air and support local wildlife.
• Easy access to daily needs - shops, schools and public transport will be within a short walk or bike ride – creating a “20-minute neighbourhood”.
• Smarter buildings - homes and workplaces will use natural light and airflow to reduce the need for air conditioning.  
• Saving water and supporting nature - rainwater will be reused in gardens and native plants will help local biodiversity thrive.  

In late 2024 the NSW Department of Education completed an analysis of student enrolment trends and determined that the project for a new primary school in Chatswood is no longer required at this time.

For information about school infrastructure planning and delivery, visit schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au or contact School Infrastructure NSW: 

Email: schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au 

Phone: 1300 482 651

Our planning is informed by community and stakeholder feedback, planning requirements, site constraints, housing and sustainability targets, and project feasibility.

Between 2 and 27 October 2025 we invited feedback on our proposal from a range of stakeholders. Our consultation included meetings, workshops and focus groups with key stakeholder groups; an online survey and two idea boards (see below tabs); and two local information sessions.

We are continuing to consult key stakeholders as planning for Stage 2 progresses.

Feedback will be summarised in Engagement Outcomes Reports submitted with our applications to the Department. The Department will exhibit the applications, allowing the public to view the plans and submit feedback to inform their assessment.

Pending approvals, construction of the streets, services and open space is expected to start late 2026. The build-to-rent apartment construction is expected to start in early 2027, with the first essential workers expected to move in by late 2028.

We will work with contractors to minimise construction impacts and will keep neighbours informed with timely updates. The construction approach will be determined when plans have been finalised.

Separate development applications will need to be submitted for approval before construction can begin on other buildings.

The Chatswood project could include a mix of market sale, affordable rental housing and build-to-rent apartments offered to essential workers at a discount to market rent. 

Landcom will deliver the build-to-rent apartments. 

Once the site is rezoned, we will either sell other development parcels or partner with another developer/builder to deliver the residential buildings. Separate development applications will need to be submitted for approval before any construction can begin. The future landowners will manage sales of these apartments. 

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