Written by
14/12/2023
The draft masterplan sets out a vision and planning framework to guide the delivery of future development in the area.
In 2022, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment released the Westmead Place Strategy 2036. This plan provides a vision for ‘Westmead Area’ to be Australia’s premier health and innovation district with an ecosystem for new discoveries, economic growth and global recognition. Westmead will also deliver exceptional place outcomes for the Central River City, with enhanced heritage and environmental assets, activated places, connected communities and housing choice.
The Cumberland LGA portion of the Westmead health and innovation district is known as ‘Westmead South’. It is situated to the south of the railway, north of the Great Western Highway and is bounded by Bridge Road to the west and Parramatta Park to the east. Westmead Place-based Transport Strategy by Transport for NSW earmarked the area to become a walkable residential neighbourhood, transformed by the Metro Station with increased connectivity, offering housing choice and diversity with an urban village at its heart.
The draft Westmead South masterplan builds on the work already undertaken as part of the place strategy and seeks to capture the opportunity afforded by the delivery of the Sydney Metro West.
Westmead’s powerhouse health precinct
The concept masterplan, yet to be approved, aims to introduce fresh land use zones, FSR, building heights and setbacks to support infrastructure, as well as define a high quality and functional open space ‘green link’ network that delivery new and connected open spaces.
Westmead South is currently home to 8050 people across 3100 dwellings. The master plan allows for an additional 7760 dwellings for a total population over 25,000. This will result in rows of low-density housing being upzoned for medium and high density housing.
The future of Westmead South is formed by two spines running generally north-south and east-west, linking the key destinations and different proposed character areas. Hawkesbury Road is the key north-south connection linking the key destinations, including the future Metro Station. A ‘green link’ consisting of new and old parks forms the east-west spine. The green link stitches areas on both sides of Hawkesbury Road together and supplements the east-west movements.
A safe, accessible and mixed use corridor along Hawkesbury Road will be created for all users linking the two key activity nodes at the future Metro Station and the Oakes Centre for community life and function. Medium to high density living will be situated within walking distance to key public transport infrastructure and low-rise medium density housing will be focussed close to public open spaces and T-way stops.
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Propertied Insider is a planning and development digital publication dedicated to the NSW Market.
