Urban renewal
Urban renewal is the term we use to describe projects that revitalise neglected areas within the Council area for the benefit of the city community.
The projects usually involve a sizable amount of land. Often re-zoning is required if they have been sold or the use of the site has changed. For example, the Council re-zoned the Harold Park Paceway site because the owners decided to sell and it was unlikely to remain a paceway under new owners. In this case, we worked with the community to make sure the re-zoning – which was required before the sale – would benefit everyone concerned.
After a long and involved consultation process, Council adopted new planning controls for the site. The renewal will now deliver 3.8ha of new public parkland, and 500 square metres of community space in the historic Tram Sheds Depot, which will be restored. Affordable and sustainable housing will be included when the developers build 1250 new homes.
When Council considers urban renewal projects like Harold Park, we look at improving the site and incorporating changes to ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Several major urban renewal projects are on the drawing board. These strategic sites include Green Square, Barangaroo and the Ashmore Precinct. Other important sites, like the 6-ha former brewery on Broadway (now called Central Park) are under construction.
Towards 2030, the City of Sydney eagerly awaits the transformation of these significant sites.
