HNSW Master Planning Update - 28 Aug 2011

Master Planning Update

The draft Built Environmental Plan 2 (BEP2), a planning analysis and framework for the renewal of social housing sites in Redfern, Waterloo and South Eveleigh areas, was placed on public exhibition by the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) in January and February 2011 for community and stakeholder consideration and comment.

BEP2 proposes a framework to guide Housing NSW in planning for the redevelopment of its major sites, including proposed development controls for:

• Land use – these set out the land uses that can be developed within the social housing precincts.  The proposed land use is mainly residential with some mixed use development;
• Height – these set the height in storeys of any future buildings i.e. how high a building is; and
• Floor space ratio – these are the maximum floor space of a building relative to the size of land.

BEP2 also identifies urban design guiding principles for future development, a preliminary public domain strategy, design excellence provisions and a preliminary transport and movement strategy.

The suggested controls contained within draft BEP2, if adopted, would enable the social housing sites in Redfern, Waterloo and South Eveleigh to be renewed to provide approximately 7,000 social, affordable and private housing dwellings. On this basis, Housing NSW’s aim will be to achieve a mix of 60% private and affordable housing dwellings and 40% social housing.

During the 18 months leading up to the release of draft BEP2, Housing NSW worked alongside the RWA to conduct activities for social housing residents aimed at building community understanding of planning and urban design issues, so that social housing residents would be better able to comment on BEP2.

Draft BEP2 was placed on exhibition for public comment from 27 January to 28 February 2011.   Over 500 feedback forms and 28 written submissions were received by the RWA.  This feedback has been reviewed and collated and is now available on the Redfern Waterloo Authority website.

Housing NSW is now progressing the work carried out to date, through the preparation of a Preliminary Master Plan that is supported by the Australian Government’s Housing Affordability Fund.

Work on the Preliminary Master Plan will be completed in mid 2012 and Housing NSW will continue to consult with the community throughout this period. There will be ongoing opportunities for Housing NSW residents to comment on the work as it progresses and to inform the outcome.

Work on background studies for the Preliminary Master Plan is already underway. Residents attended a planning expo in August and focused topic workshops are planned. Once completed, the Preliminary Master Plan will form the basis for further planning for the renewal process, in conjunction with a study of the wider area being undertaken by the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority.

Redfern Waterloo Baseline Study

The Baseline Study surveys the experiences and attitudes of 800 social housing residents in the Redfern and Waterloo areas. The findings from the study will inform the development of the Preliminary Master Plan for these social housing areas.

 For more information please see the Redfern Waterloo Authority website.

Source: Redfern Waterloo page on HNSW website 28 August 2011