Sleepy Hornsby town centre master plan signals nearly 5000 new homes

Written by

Charbel Abousleiman

Urban Planning Lawyer & Buyers Agent

13/11/2023

Hornsby’s skyline is set to change dramatically under an approved council-led masterplan to reach ambitious State Government mandated housing targets.

The masterplan will redefine the skyline by delivering slender residential apartment buildings around the train station and mall. In particular, council-owned land around the station will be rezoned to allow 36 storey towers, while surrounding sites will sit up to 20 storeys high. It is estimated that 4500 new jobs will be created with a state-of-the-art multi-purpose community facility, pedestrian and cycling networks and upgraded public transport access.

At a council meeting on 8 November, a submissions report was prepared from the public exhibition process, which detailed comments from nearly 500 stakeholders.

Hornsby’s town centre currently accommodates only 463 people, but this is expected to increase dramatically to 11,000 upon delivery of the masterplan. These changing demographics will require significant requirements for housing diversity and affordability, cultural and community infrastructure, retail and recreation opportunities and economic development with the town centre.

Hornsby town centre master plan

Key features of the master plan include:

broadening the extent of the mixed-use zoning to provide more diversity and activity of uses and users within the town centre,
providing greater housing choice and affordability,
providing for increased densities and job opportunities,
an enhanced public domain network within the town centre comprised of new, expanded and upgraded open spaces,
a multi-purpose library and community facility,
new pedestrian and vehicular links to Hornsby Park,
a new pedestrian connection across the rail corridor linking Burdett Street and Coronation Street and providing additional access to the station platforms at the northern end, and
reconfiguration of the transport interchange so that Station Street becomes a place for people and buses to be accessed on George and Jersey streets.

A key aspect of the town centre plan is to deliver a multi-purpose community facility that is fully integrated into the public domain, anchoring a surrounding hub of activity and identity. The facility will accommodate a new library, community centre, cultural and creative facilities and flexible spaces for year-round community programming.

Residential development will sit above the facility, as well as food and beverage facilities. Council-owned commercial buildings throughout the town centre will include a variety of bookable meeting rooms and co-working spaces for sole-traders, start-ups, small businesses and community interest groups.

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