Camperdown FAQs

Landcom is proposing to transform the former WestConnex construction site at Camperdown with well-designed, well-located mixed-use development featuring:

• at least 200 build-to-rent units offered to essential workers like nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers and firefighters at a discount to market rent, through a separate subsidy
• approximately 300 units that will be a mix of market sale and affordable rental housing
• a mix of ground-floor shops and services, landscaped outdoor spaces and new pedestrian links, helping to enhance neighbourhood amenity and creating a vibrant destination to live, work and visit.

In addition to affordable rental housing and build-to-rent units for key workers to rent at a discount closer to where they work, the mixed-use development will enhance the neighbourhood’s amenity and vibrancy with approximately 5,976sqm of ground-floor shops and services, and approximately 6,029sqm landscaped outdoor spaces and pedestrian links between Parramatta Road and Pyrmont Bridge Road.

The provision of publicly accessible green and open spaces is central to the proposal. Landscaping will feature native plants to support urban biodiversity and increase tree canopy cover to provide shade and cool the air.

The proposal includes approximately 5,976sqm of retail tenancies, located at ground level alongside public spaces and thoroughfares to activate the area. While the actual tenants are yet to be confirmed, it is envisaged that tenancies would be suitable for food and beverage, convenience and other specialty retailers, complementing shops and services nearby.

The retail strategy for the precinct will consider the most suitable retail options, in the context of local needs and community preferences.

Build-to-rent housing is designed and built to provide long-term rental homes, rather than sold to homebuyers, providing an alternative to home ownership.

Build-to-rent offers longer leases, often up to five years, which give tenants security of tenure. This helps renters avoid the 12-month “leasing cycle”, which can leave them looking for a new home every year. Annual rent increases are often locked in upfront, so tenants have financial security and know their rents will not escalate rapidly or unexpectedly.

Because of the longer-term tenancies, often many build-to-rent tenants are allowed to paint walls, hang pictures, keep pets and really set up home. They settle down, make new friends and build a sense of community.

At our Camperdown project, at least 200 build-to-rent apartments will be offered to essential workers at a discount to market rent. These properties will be retained in NSW Government ownership, with details on how to apply and the rental subsidy made available closer to project completion.

Housing affordability and availability is the biggest single pressure facing NSW residents, with mortgage payments or rent the largest expense for most households, particularly for essential workers.

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 more than 400 build-to-rent homes for essential workers to rent at a discount to market rent in Sydney, closer to their jobs and services.

The first project site secured is in Camperdown, with investigations into additional sites underway.

As a NSW Government owned development organisation, Landcom is well suited to coordinate planning, approvals and construction of these projects. The NSW Government will retain ownership of the build-to-rent properties, with details on how to apply and the rental subsidy made available closer to project completion.

The NSW Legislative Assembly Select Committee on Essential Worker Housing is establishing an appropriate definition for essential workers including a criteria for determining worker cohorts and geographical areas. The Committee is expected to provide their findings later in 2025.

The NSW Government will retain ownership of the build-to-rent properties, which will be managed by a suitable operator or community housing provider. Eligibility criteria, details on how to apply and the rental subsidy will be available closer to project completion.

Affordable rental housing is different to build-to-rent and social housing. It caters to people on very low to moderate incomes, and is usually managed by a non-government organisation, like a private rental with eligibility criteria. Rent is priced so tenants can afford other basic living costs such as food, clothing, transport, medical care and education.

Our Camperdown project will feature a mix of market sale, affordable rental housing and build-to-rent apartments offered to essential workers at a discount to market rent.

The amount of affordable rental housing is subject to feasibility and our housing targets. Details will firm up as planning progresses.

Landcom is a State Owned Corporation that is obligated to act commercially. We cannot progress projects that are not financially feasible.

Our Camperdown project will feature a mix of market sale, affordable rental housing and build-to-rent apartments offered to essential workers at a discount to market rent.

While Landcom does not deliver social housing and there are no plans for social housing at the site, the NSW Government is investing $6.6 billion from the 2024–25 NSW Budget into the delivery and maintenance of social housing, and boosting homelessness support services. It is the largest ever investment into social housing in the state’s history, with Homes NSW leading this important work.

The former WestConnex construction site was identified through the NSW Government’s audit of surplus land for housing, with planned development optimising an unused site close to the Sydney CBD, public and active transport, parks, and major health and education hubs.

As the site is zoned light industrial, it will need to be rezoned for proposed mixed-use development.

Planning is underway with technical specialists to understand site opportunities and constraints to support the site’s rezoning and well-designed development.

Technical studies will cover local traffic and transport, urban design, landscape design, civil engineering and environmental assessments.

Landcom is consulting Inner West Council and other government agencies to minimise impacts and achieve a great design outcome. Neighbours, the wider community and stakeholders have also been invited to share their feedback to inform our plans.

Landcom is a State Owned Corporation that is obligated to act commercially. We cannot progress projects that are not financially feasible. We must balance community and stakeholder feedback with other planning considerations, which include site constraints, planning controls, and our housing targets.

Assessments show that local roads will have 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 number of private parking spaces will align with planning requirements, and firm up as planning progresses.

The site is well-located near public transport and social infrastructure to support around 500 units across multiple buildings.

While building heights will firm up as planning progresses, the current masterplan includes buildings ranging from 3 to 20 storeys.

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

Building heights are subject to feasibility and site constraints, including existing flight paths.

We want proposed development to contribute to the Camperdown 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 design that connects with surrounding buildings, with public space, laneways and new shops and services encouraging the development to become a vibrant destination.

While older brick buildings adjacent to the site are not heritage listed, there are heritage buildings nearby on Mallett Street and Parramatta Road. Proposed development aims to be sympathetic to the area’s industrial past and heritage character through building setbacks, and use of similar materials and colours.

We are eager to understand how our projects can better connect with Country and respect the rich history and culture of Aboriginal people. Our projects fundamentally transform Country forever, and we can deliver them in a respectful and considerate way to celebrate the uniqueness of each place.

The Camperdown site is on Gadigal lands. We have engaged a specialist consultant who will meet with local First Nations community stakeholders to help us better understand the context and history of the site and surrounds, invite feedback and ideas about the proposed development, and inform design principles to recognise, celebrate and connect with Country.

In line with planning requirements a separate heritage consultant is preparing a report about Aboriginal heritage in relation to the site.

Sustainability measures for the broader Camperdown 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.

Community and stakeholder feedback is an important part of the planning process.

We are inviting feedback from a broad range of stakeholders, including site neighbours, the local community and future beneficiaries of the proposal, like essential workers. We are also consulting Inner West Council and other government agencies to minimise impacts and achieve a great design outcome.

You can share feedback on our plans for Camperdown in person and online between Tuesday 15 April and Tuesday 6 May 2025. More information is available on this webpage under Community consultation.

All feedback received will be carefully considered alongside planning requirements such as site constraints, housing and sustainability targets, and project feasibility.

A summary of this feedback will be documented and submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure as part of the Planning Proposal to rezone the site and State Significant Development Application for build-to-rent essential worker housing.

Later this year, the Department will place our applications on public exhibition, allowing you to view the plans and technical reports and submit formal feedback.

To streamline project delivery, Landcom aims to lodge an application to rezone the site and an application for the build-to-rent essential worker housing with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in mid-2025.

Later this year, the Department will publicly exhibit these applications, allowing you to view the plans and technical reports and submit formal feedback. After considering public submissions, the Department will assess the proposal and make a determination.

Landcom will work with the Department to support fast planning approvals so that the first essential workers can move in around 2028.

Pending approvals, construction of the build-to-rent housing for essential workers is expected to start in 2026, with the first essential workers expected to move in around 2028.

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

Once the site is rezoned, we will sell parts of the site planned for market sale and affordable rental housing. The future landowner will need to submit and receive approval of separate development applications before any construction can begin.