The Inner West Council has released a new strategic plan to increase housing supply in Sydney inner west and reduce housing affordability pressures in the area. A media release from Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne states that the plan will enable an additional 35,000 homes to be built in the area by increasing residential densities around train station and transport hubs. 

An important aspect of the plan is to support development of land owned by churches and religious based charities if development proposals include at least 30% of social and affordable housing provided in perpetuity and managed by not-for-profit community housing providers.  

John Engeler, Shelter NSW CEO, spoke at the plan release press conference, welcoming an ambitious attempt by council to provide more housing for people living on lower incomes, including essential workers.  

John Engeler addresses the Inner West Council launch of ’A Fairer Future for the Inner West’ in Marrickville on Wednesday 14 May. 

John started his address with a positive reminder that “any day where government gives a commitment to allow people greater housing security is a good day!”. He then reflected over the fact that “there are over 510 LGAs in Australia, nearly 130 in NSW, of which 33 make up greater Sydney- this plan by IWC – implemented well – would propel them to arguably be the lead in the ‘league table’ of Local Government across the country, directly working to do more in terms of more affordable housing”. John cautioned planners and the building and property development industry, however, against any approach that would undermine amenity and quality of new housing in the search for greater affordability. He outlined Shelter NSW principles for high quality housing supply, which “involves ‘all the As’; of course, housing must be affordable, but also provide high amenity, be more accessible, adaptable and appropriate in terms of location to services.”

Shelter NSW is delighted to see more ambitious action at the local government level to deliver the housing that we need to support functioning, inclusive communities, in Sydney Inner West and beyond.