Assessments show that local roads will have adequate capacity for traffic generated by the proposed development. As the site is well-located, future residents can also walk, cycle and use public transport to reach many nearby destinations.

The build-to-rent building has capacity for 53 secure private car parking spaces, aligned to planning requirements, at least 200 bicycle spaces and future provisions for electric vehicle charging. The number of parking spaces for the other buildings will be confirmed in separate applications by the future landowner/s. Landcom is also looking at the opportunity to provide car share spaces for future residents and the wider community to use.

Landcom consulted Inner West Council and other government agencies, including Transport for NSW to minimise the impacts of future development on the neighbourhood and achieve a great design outcome.  

The site is well-located near public transport and social infrastructure to support around 577 units across multiple buildings.

To deliver feasible development on this small but well-located site, we planned for building heights to range from 3 to 21 storeys, within height limits of existing flight paths. Our proposal to rezone the site was approved in December 2025, permitting buildings up to 21 storeys (approximately 77m).

Working with our architect, urban designer and local planning authorities, we believe the scheme is in keeping with existing taller buildings in the area and future potential developments along Parramatta Road.

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

The Joinery Annandale will contribute to the local neighbourhood, creating a place that future residents are proud to call home and supporting them to become part of the community. 

While older brick buildings adjacent to the site are not heritage listed, there are heritage buildings nearby on Mallett Street, Pyrmont Bridge Road and Parramatta Road. We aim to showcase design that connects with the surrounding neighbourhood and is sympathetic to the area’s industrial past and heritage character through building setbacks and the use of similar materials and colours. 

We recognise our projects fundamentally transform Country forever. We seek to engage First Nations stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle wherever possible, helping us to understand how we can deliver projects in a respectful and considerate way to celebrate the uniqueness of each place.

The Joinery Annandale is on Gadigal lands. The Country Centred Design Framework submitted with our rezoning proposal documents consultation with local First Nations stakeholders that helped to shape design principles to recognise, celebrate and connect with Country that have guided our landscaping and public domain plans, which include:

• native planting that supports urban biodiversity and could provide interactive and educational opportunities
• embracing the ebb and flow of water, with permeable pavements and gardens to support water infiltration
• using natural materials and opportunities for First Nations design in installations, street furniture and public art.

Separate Aboriginal cultural heritage advice concluded that the project site contains no Aboriginal objects or sites of Aboriginal archaeological potential or cultural value, noting that the project site is a highly disturbed urban landscape between two major roads.

Sustainability measures for the project include:

• building setbacks and public spaces that support an increase in tree canopy cover, helping to provide shade and cool the air
• landscaped public and private spaces featuring native plants, supporting urban biodiversity
• buildings oriented to maximise solar access and cross ventilation, reducing reliance on air conditioning
• no gas connections, supporting a shift towards renewable energy sources
• water sensitive urban design principles, including rainwater collection for use in landscaping façades, roof treatments, materials and colours that reflect local character and are less likely to attract heat
• the build-to-rent apartment building is targeting a 4 star green star building rating through the Green Buildings Council of Australia, demonstrating our commitment to delivering sustainable and resilient homes for future generations. This will mean the design will enable energy efficiency and usage of renewables, improved indoor air quality and reduced upfront carbon emissions.

We want proposed development to contribute to the local neighbourhood, creating a place that future residents are proud to call home and supporting them to become part of the community.

We aim to showcase density done well and design that connects with surrounding buildings, with public space, laneways and new shops and services encouraging the development to become a vibrant destination.

These principles are guiding our design approach:

• A revitalised local centre
• Greening the heart of the site
• Increasing connectivity
• Continuing the fine grain character
• Private, communal and public amenity.

During early planning and community and stakeholder consultation, we informally referred to the proposal as our Camperdown project because the site was known as the Camperdown dive site for the former WestConnex motorway project. Our submitted applications correctly refer to the site’s location as Annandale, while the project is now officially called The Joinery Annandale. 

Between 15 April and 6 May 2025, we invited feedback from a broad range of stakeholders, including site neighbours, the local community and future beneficiaries of the proposal, like essential workers. We also consulted Inner West Council and other government agencies to minimise impacts of the proposed development on the neighbourhood and achieve a great design outcome.

As a State Owned Corporation, Landcom is obligated to act commercially and cannot progress projects that are financially unfeasible. We carefully considered community and stakeholder feedback alongside planning requirements such as site constraints, housing and sustainability targets, and project feasibility, to finalise our plans.

In June 2025, we submitted a Planning Proposal to rezone the site and a State Significant Development Application for the build-to-rent housing for essential workers to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. A summary of feedback is documented in the Consultation Outcomes Report submitted with these applications.

The Department publicly exhibited the applications between 12 August and 8 September 2025, during which time people could submit feedback to inform the Department's assessment. 

Submissions received during public exhibition showed community support for green and community spaces, and affordable and essential worker housing. Detailed studies considered concerns about building heights, overshadowing, and transport capacity, confirming these impacts will not significantly change local amenity. 

In June 2025 we submitted a Planning Proposal to rezone the site and a State Significant Development Application for the build-to-rent housing for essential workers to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

We carefully considered community and stakeholder feedback alongside planning requirements such as site constraints, housing and sustainability targets, and project feasibility, to finalise our plans. During planning, we also identified the opportunity to accommodate 20 more build-to-rent homes onsite, enabling 220 build-to-rent units to be offered to essential workers like nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers and firefighters at a discount to market rent, through a separate subsidy.

The Department publicly exhibited the applications between 12 August and 8 September 2025, during which time people could submit feedback to inform the Department's assessment. 

In December 2025, the Department approved the applications, recognising the substantial housing benefits it will deliver for the community. 

The Joinery Annandale includes a mix of market sale, affordable rental housing and build-to-rent apartments offered to essential workers at a discount to market rent. 

We're in the process of selling two lots planned for market sale and affordable rental housing. The future landowners will get separate development applications approved before they begin constructing new apartments. The future landowners will manage sales of these apartments. 

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Early works

In mid-August 2026 we'll start early works to prepare the site for future development. These works are expected to take 3-5 months to complete, subject to weather conditions. 

Construction hours are 7am-6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-1pm Saturdays. A site manager will be on duty during these hours. 

Underneath the concrete layer on site are contaminants that reflect the site’s former use, including asbestos, so ground remediation is required to support future development. A contractor licensed by SafeWork to remove asbestos will complete these works, which will be overseen by an occupational hygienist and approved by an independent site auditor licensed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority. SafeWork will be notified of the works.

The works involve: 

• demolishing concrete slabs and remaining structures – noisy activities like rock breaking and rock hammering will be carried out after 8am on workdays

• excavating and disposing contaminated materials and soil, with waste disposed at licenced landfill facilities using secure bins

• temporarily diverting services to allow works to continue.

Work impacts will be minimised by: 

• establishing quarantined asbestos removal areas for authorised personnel only 
• asbestos fibre air monitoring by a trained contractor during asbestos removal works
• dust, noise and vibration monitoring
• spraying water to suppress dust, and stopping works which generate dust if there are high winds
• washing down equipment on site, with controls in place to prevent run-off
• establishing traffic control near the site entry on Pyrmont Bridge Road during truck movements to safely guide road users, pedestrians and cyclists
• encouraging workers to use public transport and carpool to site, as there is limited room for worker parking onsite
• sharing construction updates with our immediate neighbours.

Neighbours are safe to continue normal routines, including keeping windows open or walking near the site. 

Future construction

Pending approvals and progress of early works, 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're in the process of selling two lots planned for market sale and affordable rental housing. The future landowners will get separate development applications approved before they begin constructing new apartments. The future landowners will manage sales of these apartments.