Local Strategic Planning Statement and Local Housing Strategy

The Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) sets out Council’s 20-year vision for land use planning in the area along with planning priorities for jobs, homes and infrastructure, and actions to achieve the priorities and vision.

The NSW Government introduced requirements for councils to prepare a LSPS in March 2018 as part of planning legislation changes to align state and local government plans, and coordinate and guide long-term planning and infrastructure decisions.

The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) provides direction at the local level about when and where future housing growth will occur.

The City of Parramatta is undergoing significant change, particularly in the provision of housing to support the predicted growth in population. High density development (apartments) has been, and will continue to be the dominant type of housing to be constructed across the Council area over the next 20 years and will typically occur within growth precincts* which have close proximity to existing public transport infrastructure.

* A growth precinct is a defined precinct identified for higher density growth, (residential apartment buildings, shop-top housing and mixed use), usually in combination with local retail and business services and supporting infrastructure and facilities. Growth precincts are highly varied due to the key stakeholders and their planning evolution with some growth precincts having had their formal strategic planning process completed.

Over the next 20 years, as the City of Parramatta grows and changes, a key priority for Council will be to maintain high levels of liveability as well as grow economic activity. Specifically, Council needs to ensure:

• Housing and jobs are delivered as infrastructure is built
• A greater range of housing types are provided
• A concerted effort is made to increase the availability of affordable housing apartments
• Jobs are delivered and industrial land is protected
• Heritage is protected
• Local infrastructure (community facilities, open space and recreational facilities, etc) is delivered
• Areas of environmental importance are protected.

These challenges guide Council in its policy development and its advocacy role and are also the focus of the actions within the LSPS.

The LSPS will guide Council’s decisions on land use matters within the LGA particularly in relation to housing and employment. Once adopted, it will also inform Council’s project delivery and be a tool for Council at an advocacy level when liaising with NSW Government and key stakeholders on land use issues.