In May 2016, the new City of Parramatta LGA was created from parts of the former council areas of Auburn, Holroyd, Hornsby, Parramatta and The Hills.

As a result, different planning controls applied to different parts of the LGA, creating a lot of confusion for landowners and developers.

Council subsequently prepared what was known as the ‘Harmonisation Planning Proposal’, which contained draft planning controls to harmonise the existing five Local Environmental Plans.

On 2 March 2023, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment finalised this planning proposal – now formally known as ‘Parramatta Local Environmental Plan 2023’.

In finalising the new LEP, the Department made some key policy changes, including:

1.     Dual Occupancy Prohibition Areas

Council’s proposal to expand the dual occupancy prohibition area through the suburbs of Dundas, Dundas Valley, Oatlands and parts of Eastwood and Epping was not supported.

As a consequence, there are now 89 lots on the north side of Carlingford Road in Epping that have also been removed from the prohibition areas.

The Department retained the prohibition of subdivision of dual occupancies in the former Hills LGA.

2.    Floor Space Ratio and Building Height for R3 Medium Density Residential land

The Department did not support Council’s endorsed approach to introduce standard FSR of 0.6:1 and an 11 metre building height for all R3 zoned land across the LGA.