Urban Digest

Annandale $236m BTR Tower Approved for Essential Workers

January 12, 2026

Architectural drawing of the proposed build-to-rent tower at the former WestConnex Dive Site in Annandale.

A build-to-rent development dedicated entirely to essential worker housing has secured planning consent for the former WestConnex dive site in Annandale. The NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces granted approval with conditions, following a detailed assessment by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

This development represents a major step in urban renewal along Parramatta Road and will contribute to housing supply and affordability in Sydney.

Project Overview

Landcom will lead the $236.6 million development, delivering a 21-storey tower with 220 build-to-rent apartments. All units will be offered to essential workers at discounted rents below market rate.

The tower will rise above a commercial and retail podium and include one level of basement parking for 53 vehicles. Additionally, the project will provide 2,990m² of public domain improvements, including a 1,179m² central public open space and an upgraded Bignell Lane.

The development is expected to support 130 construction jobs during the build phase and 40 ongoing roles once operational.

Strategic and Policy Context

The proposal supports the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy. This strategy promotes high-density, mixed-use development near key health, education, and transport infrastructure in the Camperdown precinct.

In December 2025, the NSW Government gazetted new planning controls for the site through a State-Assessed Rezoning Proposal (SARP). These changes rezoned the site to MU1 Mixed Use, set a building height limit of 77 metres, and increased the floor space ratio to 4.9:1.

The project also aligns with broader policy goals under the National Housing Accord and the Social and Affordable Housing Program, which aim to increase the supply of well-located rental housing for key workers.

Planning History

The NSW Government identified the site as surplus infrastructure land through its Land Audit process. In response, the Department of Planning issued Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) in February 2023, after receiving a formal request in December 2022.

The Department completed and endorsed a Strategic Merit Test in May 2023, confirming the site’s suitability for residential development. Landcom followed with a Preliminary Planning Proposal in June 2023.

The associated SARP was publicly exhibited from 21 August to 18 September 2025. In December 2025, the government finalised the rezoning. This established the current planning controls that enable the build-to-rent scheme.

Landcom lodged the development application under section 4.36 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. This pathway allows the Minister to act as the consent authority. The assessment documents did not record any formal pre-lodgement feedback from Inner West Council.

Design and Built Form

The approved design includes a slender, north–south oriented tower above a stepped podium. Building heights decrease from six storeys along Parramatta Road to two storeys at the western boundary.

This layout maximises solar access, improves outlook to the city, and minimises overshadowing of surrounding areas.

The design team applied Country Centred Design principles in collaboration with Djinjama, incorporating natural tones and cultural references into the architecture. The plan includes a central plaza, landscaped spaces, and through-site pedestrian links to activate the public domain.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

During public exhibition, the Department received 47 submissions: 33 supported the proposal, 10 objected, and 4 offered comments.

Supporters welcomed the focus on housing for essential workers and the addition of new public space. However, objectors raised concerns about the building’s scale, parking, flood risk, and amenity impacts. Inner West Council submitted a detailed objection, seeking perpetual affordability, improved housing diversity, and enhanced public realm outcomes.

State agencies, including DCCEEW and NSW SES, raised issues related to flood risk and emergency management. The applicant revised the proposal to address these.

Impact Assessment

The Department found the proposed 75m building height and 4.3:1 FSR aligned with the updated planning controls. While some tower separations fall below Apartment Design Guide standards, the Department accepted these due to site constraints and the slender tower form.

Visual and overshadowing impacts were considered acceptable given the site’s location. In response to flood risks, Landcom raised ground levels and included a basement flood tank. The Department also accepted a Shelter-in-Place strategy for rare flood events, as short isolation periods were considered manageable.

Traffic and public transport impacts were assessed as minor. Conditions of consent require delivery of the public domain works, access upgrades, and flood mitigation infrastructure.

Determination and Conditions

The Minister’s delegate approved the development under section 4.36 of the EP&A Act. Key reasons included alignment with housing policy, the provision of 220 affordable rental units for essential workers, and a high-quality public realm.

The approval comes with several conditions: