Essential workers like nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers and firefighters provide invaluable services to people across NSW. Without them, NSW would grind to a halt.

Why we need housing for essential workers

Often many essential workers can’t afford housing in the areas they serve.

Commuting long distances adds stress, time and costs to already demanding jobs. On average, a community based key worker spends 1.5 hours per day in their car while a residential based worker (e.g. a home care nurse) spends 2.3 hours per day on public transport (Source: Orchard Talent Group, 2024).

Hospitals, schools, and emergency services are struggling to retain staff because housing is unaffordable in the areas where they are located. Without local housing options, we risk understaffing critical services.

The below map shows the percentage of people living in different Sydney areas who are essential workers.

Homes for essential workers in the heart of Camperdown

We are seeking approval to deliver a 21-storey mixed-use apartment building with a total gross floor area of around 18,146sqm that will provide:

• 220 build-to-rent homes for essential workers to rent at a discount, with a mix of studios, 1-bed, 2-bed and 3-bed units – this is an increase of 20 units from earlier plans, achieved through different approaches such as smart design, adjusting the mix of apartments and leveraging surplus space
• an indoor space on level 1 for private reflection, study and relaxation with direct access to a landscaped rooftop terrace
• a flexible indoor communal space on level 3 with a kitchen, bookable table, outdoor areas and games facilities
• a landscaped communal outdoor space on level 7, suitable for residents and their pets to access fresh air, socialise and foster community connection
• ground-floor retail and commercial spaces
• secure underground parking with capacity for 53 car parking spaces, aligned to planning requirements, plus 240 bicycle spaces and future provisions for electric vehicle charging.

The building will remain in NSW Government ownership, with tenancies managed by a suitable operator. Details will be made available closer to project completion.

The project is well located, close to the Sydney CBD, transport, leafy parks, schools and health facilities including one of Sydney’s largest hospitals, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The below map shows essential workplaces around the site.

We submitted a range of technical studies with the applications to address:

🏘️ Housing needs
🚍 Access, traffic, parking and transport
🛍️ Amenity and social impact
🔊 Noise and air quality
⚠️ Hazardous materials
🏛️ Heritage
🌳 Urban design and landscape design
⚙️ Civil engineering
🌱 Environmental considerations

Technical studies can be viewed during public exhibition later this year.

Site remediation

Given the site’s former uses, remediation is needed to manage contaminants found onsite so that it is safe for future development. We have engaged specialist environmental consultants to develop a strategy to manage this process.

Traffic and parking

Assessments show that local roads will have adequate capacity for traffic generated by the proposed development. As the site is well-located, future residents can also walk, cycle and use public transport to reach many nearby destinations.

The build-to-rent building has capacity for 53 secure private car parking spaces, aligned to planning requirements, 240 bicycle spaces and future provisions for electric vehicle charging. The number of parking spaces for the other buildings will be confirmed in separate applications by the future landowner/s. Landcom is also looking at the opportunity to provide car share spaces for future residents and the wider community to use.

Landcom consulted Inner West Council and other government agencies including Transport for NSW to minimise impacts of the proposed development on the neighbourhood and achieve a great design outcome. The applications will be referred to Transport for NSW during public exhibition to provide formal feedback.

Heights, visual amenity and privacy

The rezoning proposal is seeking permission for buildings up to 21 storeys. Building heights are subject to feasibility and constraints, including existing flight paths.

Our planning must consider privacy and views of neighbouring properties, and overshadowing

Proposed setbacks, landscaped public spaces, pedestrian laneways and the distance between buildings will help to reduce overshadowing, while providing future residents adequate privacy and sunlight.

We want proposed development to contribute to the local neighbourhood, creating a place that future residents are proud to call home and supporting them to become part of the community.

We aim to showcase density done well and design that connects with surrounding buildings, with public space, laneways and new shops and services encouraging the development to become a vibrant destination.

Six principles are guiding our design approach:

• A revitalised local centre
• Greening the heart of the site
• Increasing connectivity
• Continuing the fine grain character
• Private, communal and public amenity where possible
• Density done well with incorporated sustainability targets.

Materials and facades

While older brick buildings adjacent to the site are not heritage listed, there are heritage buildings nearby on Mallett Street, Pyrmont Bridge Road and Parramatta Road.

Proposed development aims to be sympathetic to the area’s industrial past and heritage character through building setbacks, and use of similar materials and colours.

Connecting with Country

We recognise our projects fundamentally transform Country forever. We seek to engage First Nations stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle wherever possible, helping us to understand how we can deliver projects in a respectful and considerate way to celebrate the uniqueness of each place.

The Joinery Annandale is on Gadigal lands. The Country Centred Design Framework submitted with our rezoning proposal documents consultation with local First Nations stakeholders that helped to shape design principles to recognise, celebrate and connect with Country that have guided our landscaping and public domain plans, which include:

• native planting that supports urban biodiversity and could provide interactive and educational opportunities
• embracing the ebb and flow of water, with permeable pavements and gardens to support water infiltration
• using natural materials and opportunities for First Nations design in installations, street furniture and public art.

Separate Aboriginal cultural heritage advice concluded that the project site contains no Aboriginal objects or sites of Aboriginal archaeological potential or cultural value, noting that the project site is a highly disturbed urban landscape between two major roads.

Proposed development will enhance the neighbourhood’s amenity and vibrancy with ground-floor shops and services, landscaped outdoor spaces and new pedestrian links between Parramatta Road and Pyrmont Bridge Road.

Shops and services

The proposal includes ground-floor shops and services alongside public spaces and thoroughfares to activate the area.

We envisage future tenancies would be suitable for food and beverage, convenience and other specialty retailers, complementing shops and services nearby. We are preparing a Retail Strategy to assess current local amenities and provide recommendations for what could be included in future development to help meet the daily needs of local residents, while creating a vibrant destination for people to visit and support the local economy.

Creating an urban oasis

The provision of publicly accessible green and open spaces is central to the proposal, providing places for people to meet, relax and socialise. Landscaping will feature native plants to support urban biodiversity and increase tree canopy cover to provide shade and cool the air.