Ashmore Precinct
Introduction
In 1995 the Strategy for a Sustainable City of South Sydney, identified the Ashmore Precinct as a new growth area, with the potential to provide large redevelopment sites around railway stations as well as significant accessible open space. The Strategy identified the site, covering 17 hectares, as having the potential to become a new sustainable urban village directly connected to the adjacent community.
The Precinct was then rezoned in 1998 to Zone 10 – Mixed Uses. This allows, where appropriate, a mix of land uses such as residential, retail commercial, light industrial.
Location
The Ashmore Precinct is located in Erskineville and is bounded by Ashmore Street, Mitchell Road, Coulson Street and the Bankstown rail line.
History
Historically the site has evolved as an unplanned area within the city. This is quite typical of development in the 1800’s in Sydney with housing built on the higher land, and warehouses concentrated along rail corridors and swampy areas where land reclamation occurred. The most significant former land use on the site was the ‘Metters’ factory that produced ovens and boilers until 1973.
Background
The existing precinct, although predominantly used for light industrial purposes, has a mix of land uses including commercial, retail and residential. The precinct is characterised by large scale industrial buildings on large land holdings, and includes a number of owner-occupied strata industrial units.
Since 1998 there have been several development applications for residential development, and the area is now experiencing change. It is recognised that having numerous landowners will mean that complete redevelopment of the precinct will likely take a number of years. Some sites may also need to amalgamate to maximise development potential. It is also recognised that some established businesses may not wish to move.
However, a site of such scale requires a comprehensive ‘Structure Plan’ that identifies the location of new roads and open spaces to guide future development, and to address site constraints. To guide the future development of the Ashmore Precinct, the Council approved in August 2006 a specific Development Control Plan (DCP).
Key Features of the DCP
Key features are:
- Land uses including residential, commercial and the potential for a retail precinct;
- Building design and form with a focus on achieving design excellence, and retaining the character of the area;
- Staging to ensure that all development sites, within the overall site, can develop independently without adverse impacts on neighbouring areas;
- Public domain, including a new park and new streets;
- Effective pedestrian, cycle and traffic linkages; and
- Critical infrastructure elements to manage stormwater.
What will the Precinct look like?
Extensive urban design analysis was undertaken to develop appropriate controls for building heights, built form and density of development. Individual lots can be redeveloped independently, and will be designed so as not to overshadow adjacent properties or block city views from Sydney Park. The DCP also aims to provide a range of housing types such as terraces, apartments and live-work accommodation. The City also envisages that redevelopment can provide the opportunity to create some affordable housing.
Download
- Building Envelopes | PDF 527Kb
- Floor Space Ratio | PDF 397Kb
- Height Controls | PDF 466Kb
- View Corridor | PDF 102Kb
The City Plan
A new City Plan is being prepared for the City of Sydney. The City Plan is a new package of planning controls, including a Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and DCP for the whole Local Government Area.
In preparing the City Plan, the Ashmore DCP has also been reviewed, as part of the Erskineville, Alexandria (West) and Newtown (South) Urban Design Study (the Study). The review work looked at rationalising some of the streets and examining the scope for increasing building heights and densities across the precinct. This is in line with the City’s obligation to fulfil the targets set by the Department of Planning in its Metropolitan Strategy as well as the targets set by the City’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 Vision to provide a range of residential housing stock including affordable housing. The Study is a document that provides a number of recommendations that will be used to inform the preparation of the C ity Plan.
Council on Monday 23 February 2009 and the Central Sydney Planning Committee on Thursday 19 February 2009 considered the Study and resolved the following:
- That the Study is noted
- That the community is invited to comment on the Study; and
- That those who attended the workshops are notified about the Study.
The Study was made available for public comment from 9 March until 6 April 2009. Fifty-seven submissions were received from local residents, landowners and government agencies. Council officers have considered these submissions, and have now finalised the recommendations of the Study. These recommendations will inform the new planning controls and will be integrated into the City Plan. Your next opportunity to comment on the proposed planning controls will be when the draft City Plan is placed on public exhibition.
You can view the final Study here.
More Information
John Davies
Specialist Planner
Tel: 02 9265 9873
Fax: 02 9265 9679
Email: jodavies@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Downloads
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Last Updated: Thursday 15 October, 2009
