Housing Strategy
Housing Strategy Finalised - September 2011
The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard has gazetted the Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy, providing opportunities for the development of over 2,690 new dwellings in Hornsby Shire. The Minister gazetted the amendments to the Hornsby Shire Local Environmental Plan on Friday 2 September 2011.
The final, gazetted Housing Strategy includes precincts to facilitate a mix of townhouse, five-storey and eight to ten-storey residential and mixed-used developments in parts Asquith, Beecroft, Carlingford, Hornsby, Mount Colah, Normanhurst, Pennant Hills, Thornleigh, Waitara and West Pennant Hills.
The Berowra and Mount Colah Commercial Centre Precincts have been removed from the Housing Strategy after the Rural Fire Service raised concerns last year.
The new Housing Strategy DCP, along with amendments to existing DCPs came into force on 15 September 2011. These documents will provide planning guidelines for development within the Housing Strategy precincts listed below.
Download the written instrument, zoning maps and Height of Building maps and precincts below.
- Hornsby Shire LEP 1994, Amendment 99 - Written Instrument - 5.1MB
- Hornsby Shire LEP 1994, Amendment 99 - Zoning Maps - 2.3MB
- Hornsby Shire LEP 1994, Amendment 99 - Height of Buildings Map - 1MB
- Full list of Housing Strategy precincts - 14.5kb
Housing Strategy Update – April 2011
The Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy Planning Proposal adopted by Council in July 2010 is still with the State Government’s Department of Planning and Infrastructure for finalisation.
At its meeting on 6 April 2011, Council considered a Matter of Urgency concerning the Housing Strategy and resolved that:
- The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure be urged not to delegate his authority to make the Housing Strategy LEP to unelected bureaucrats, but instead to personally consider the implications of the Housing Strategy on the residents of Hornsby Shire.
- The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure be urged to defer the Hornsby Housing Strategy in its current form to allow Council to work more closely with the State Government in developing a proposal for Hornsby Shire that is palatable to the majority of residents rather than the current Housing Strategy, which was opposed by approximately 90% of residents.
- The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure be advised that Council wishes to meet its challenges for increased densities by way of focusing in on its major centres such as Epping, Pennant Hills and Hornsby in the longer term, subject to adequate infrastructure provision for those centres and by identifying shortcomings in current housing choice in the Shire and exploring possibilities of medium densities in certain areas.
- The Mayor write to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure seeking a meeting with interested Councillors and senior Council officers to discuss options for a revised Housing Strategy.
- Council identify budget implications and funding sources for progressing a Housing Strategy and master plan for the precincts nominated as part of a revised Housing Strategy.
- Council officers write to the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority with a view to nominating Pennant Hills as a potential precinct for renewal under the SEPP (Urban Renewal) 2010 and to determine whether the Authority would be interested in partnering with Council to redevelop this precinct.
In accordance with Council’s resolution, the Mayor has written to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. Council has also written to the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority nominating Pennant Hills as a potential precinct for renewal under the Urban Renewal State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).
Copies of the letters can be viewed below.
DCP Update - March 2011
At the Planning Meeting on 2 March 2011, Council resolved to approve the Housing Strategy Development Control Plan (DCP) with a number of changes. Council also resolved to approve amendments to the existing Medium Density Multi-Unit Housing, Medium/High Density Multi-Unit Housing, High Density Multi-Unit Housing, Business Lands and Berowra Cowan DCPs to supplement the Housing Strategy.
The Housing Strategy DCP and other DCP amendments will come into force upon the gazettal of the Housing Strategy rezonings, which are still with the Department of Planning for finalisation.
View the following documents:
- Full Council resolution (including the list of changes)
- Housing Strategy DCP, as presented to Council, not including all changes as noted in resolution above
- Housing Strategy DCP - Introduction and General controls - 530kb
- Housing Strategy DCP - Part 1: 5 storey residential development - 1.5MB
- Housing Strategy DCP - Part 2: Mixed use development - 1.2MB
- Housing Strategy DCP - Part 3: Heritage precinct development - 1.1MB
- Housing Strategy DCP - Part 4: Town Centre Linkage Diagrams - 3.5MB
- DCP amendments
Housing Strategy Update - January 2011
The Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy Planning Proposal adopted by Council in July 2010 is still with the Department of Planning for finalisation. The Department has indicated that the zoning changes are imminent. However, no date has been given at this stage as to when they will come into effect.
Council will inform owners of properties proposed for rezoning and submitters once the State Government has implemented the zoning changes.
Update - Outcome of meeting on 7 July 2010
At the Planning meeting on 7 July 2010, Council resolved to move forward with some aspects of the amended Housing Strategy, provided the State Government gives residents its unqualified commitment to provide services such as roads, public transport, hospitals and schools to meet the new demand.
A planning proposal incorporating several amendments, including the deletion of a number of precincts, will be forwarded to the Minister for Planning.
Council resolved to make the following amendments to the Strategy:
- Delete the Dunrossil Avenue, Carlingford precinct
- Delete the Fleming Street, Carlingford precinct
- Delete the Milton Street , Carlingford precinct
- Delete the Darwin Street , Carlingford precinct
- Reduce the height of the Belair Close, Hornsby precinct to five storeys
- Include a minor western boundary adjustment to the Mount Colah Commercial Centre precinct
- Delete the Linda Street, Hornsby precinct
- Delete the Judith Avenue, Mount Colah precinct
We will also draft and exhibit a separate Townhouse Planning Proposal, which will provide opportunities to make up for the dwelling target shortfall caused by the deleted precincts.
You can read the full Council minutes and resolution at our Business Papers page.
View the updated list of precincts - Final list of precincts sent to the Department of Planning - 8kb.
Update - Amended Housing Strategy
Council has received a large number of responses to the amended Housing Strategy, which was exhibited from 15 March to 23 April 2010.
Having considered the issues raised by the community, a report has been prepared for the Wednesday 7 July Planning Meeting which recommends further amendments to the Housing Strategy. The changes include the removal of some precincts from the Strategy and some other minor amendments.
Specifically the report recommends the following changes:
| Precinct name | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Judith Avenue, Mount Colah | Delete from Housing Strategy |
| Mount Colah Commercial Centre | Minor western boundary adjustment |
| Linda Street, Hornsby | Delete from Housing Strategy |
| Belair Close, Hornsby | Reduce height to 5 storeys |
| Dunrossil Avenue, Carlingford | Delete from Housing Strategy |
| Fleming Street, Carlingford | Delete from Housing Strategy |
| Milton Street, Carlingford | Delete from Housing Strategy |
| Darwin Street, Carlingford | Delete from Housing Strategy |
Deleting these precincts from the Strategy will result in a shortfall in Council’s dwelling target. Therefore an additional proposal has been prepared for Council’s consideration and future consultation with the community.
Many submissions indicated that residents would prefer smaller scale development such as townhouses rather than medium or high density development. Council has considered this feedback and a draft Townhouse Planning Proposal has been prepared to ensure that Council’s dwelling target is met. The proposal identifies certain areas in Hornsby, Asquith and Mount Colah for rezoning to permit townhouses. If this proposal is endorsed by Council and the Department of Planning, it will be placed on public exhibition to allow feedback from the community.
Download the full report and attachments below. Due to large file sizes, some attachments have been broken up into smaller sections.
Report
Attachment 1 - Housing Strategy Planning Proposal Location Map
Attachment 2 - Housing Strategy Volume 3a - Report on Submissions 2010
Attachment 3 - Housing Strategy Planning Proposal
- Planning Proposal - Background and Parts 1-4 - 1.7MB
- Planning Proposal - Appendix A - 1.7MB
- Planning Proposal - Appendix B - 5MB
- Planning Proposal - Appendix C - 12.5MB
- Planning Proposal - Appendix D - 654kb
- Planning Proposal - Appendix E - 1.7MB
- Planning Proposal - Appendix F - 808kb
- Planning Proposal - Appendix G and H - 536kb
Attachment 4 - Townhouse Planning Proposal
The above report and attachments will be considered by Council at its meeting on Wednesday 7 July 2010.
Amended Housing Strategy - as exhibited
Although submissions have now closed, you can still view the exhibition documents below.
View the Housing Strategy
Volume 2:
- Vol 2 - Contents - 239kb
- Vol 2 - Berowra precincts - 1.4MB
- Vol 2 - Mt Colah precincts - 4.2MB
- Vol 2 - Asquith precincts – Part 1 - 5.6MB
- Vol 2 - Asquith precincts – Part 2 - 4.9MB
- Vol 2 - Hornsby precincts - 5.6MB
- Vol 2 - Waitara precincts - 4.5MB
- Vol 2 - Normanhurst precincts - 1.4MB
- Vol 2 - Thornleigh precincts - 3MB
- Vol 2 - Pennant Hills precincts - 1.4MB
- Vol 2 - West Pennant Hills precincts - 1.4MB
- Vol 2 - Beecroft precincts - 2.3MB
- Vol 2 - Carlingford precincts - 6MB
- Vol 2 - Draft five-storey controls - 1.9MB
- Vol 2 - Draft 20-storey built form concepts - 634kb
Volume 3 – has been prepared to present a report on submissions received during the 2009 exhibition.
Vol 3 – Report on Submission - 3.5MB
Planning Proposal – has been prepared at the direction of the Department of Planning. It is the first step in the State Government’s new plan making process, and sets out Council’s objectives, outcomes and justification for the Strategy.
Gateway Determination – has been issued by the Department of Planning, and authorises the exhibition of the amended Strategy.
View additional information
Frequently asked Questions - 228kb
Background on planning in Hornsby Shire
The Shire’s first comprehensive housing strategy, the 1994 Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy, included a range of new housing initiatives to meet the State Government’s urban consolidation requirements and local community expectations. Two precincts were rezoned for high density multi-unit housing adjacent to the Hornsby Town Centre – College Crescent, Hornsby and Orara Street, Waitara.
The 1998 Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy involved the rezoning of eight precincts from Berowra to Epping to allow medium to high-density multi-unit housing to accommodate the Shire’s growing population. A former Department of Community Services site and a former Formica factory site at Westleigh were also rezoned to permit multi-unit housing.
In December 2005 the State Government released its Metropolitan Strategy which outlined new dwelling targets throughout Sydney. The draft North Subregional Strategy was subsequently released by the Department of Planning, to guide land-use planning specifically in Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Council areas. The strategy identifies that Hornsby Shire must provide 11,000 dwellings by 2031.
The Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy will, if endorsed by Council, assist in meeting that target. See State Government’s Metropolitan Strategy and draft North Subregional Strategy.
