2700 new houses to be built near Croydon Station in Sydney's Inner West

In a significant step toward addressing Sydney’s growing housing crisis, new planning controls around Croydon Station are set to unlock space for more than 2,700 new homes over the next 15 years.

The Croydon precinct, which straddles the Inner West and Burwood local government areas, has been designated a Transport Oriented Development (TOD) zone—part of the New South Wales Government’s broader push to accelerate residential development around key transit hubs. The new State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) controls will take effect this week for the Inner West Council area, following the council’s failure to submit its own housing master plan by the state’s 31 January deadline.

Meanwhile, Burwood Council, which oversees the precinct’s north-western side, has opted to develop its own planning framework in place of the state-led scheme. That plan calls for mid- and high-rise housing concentrated between Croydon and Burwood Town Centres, while preserving established heritage zones in Burwood North.

Proposed changes include revisions to zoning rules, building height limits, and housing densities, alongside public domain improvements such as open space expansion, tree planting, better parking, and active transport infrastructure. Burwood Council submitted its final plans earlier this year following a public consultation period; the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is now reviewing them for compliance.

Once the new planning controls are formally notified, details for the Inner West precinct will be published on the NSW Government’s Spatial Viewer. Future developments will be assessed by the respective councils unless deemed State Significant.

The Croydon rezoning forms part of the Minns government’s ambitious TOD Program, which now applies to 29 stations across Greater Sydney. The initiative aims to fast-track housing delivery, reform planning protocols, and improve affordability for students, workers, families, and retirees alike. Five additional stations—Cockle Creek, North Wollongong, St Marys, Punchbowl, and Wiley Park—are expected to be added to the program by June 2025.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully says that “Sydney’s inner west has always been bustling with activity and these planning changes will mean more people get to enjoy its great location and connectivity.

“Croydon provides an ideal strategic location to leverage the benefits of Inner West living, while being close to public transport and essential services in and around Croydon and Burwood.

“Burwood Council has suggested a planning solution that means more homes near a train station, near services and the community.

“Croydon now stands ready for an exciting new chapter in its long-storied history whereby thousands of new residents will get to experience the great cosmopolitan lifestyle this suburb offers.”

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