The Minns Labor Government has released three draft strategic planning documents designed to realign Sydney’s long-term housing and employment growth with the state’s recent planning reforms and policy initiatives.

The Draft Sydney Plan, A New Approach to Strategic Planning: Discussion Paper, and Statewide Policy for Industrial Lands collectively set out a revised growth vision for Sydney and NSW over the coming decades.

1. Draft Sydney Plan

To replace the outdated Greater Sydney Region Plan, the Draft Sydney Plan will guide housing and jobs growth in Sydney over the next 20 years, delivering clear direction on locating new jobs and homes to make living in the city more affordable, thereby supporting both economic growth and improved housing outcomes.

Highlights include aligning infrastructure to planned growth for both infill and greenfield development, increasing the supply of well-located jobs, integrating environmental management and urban greening early into the planning process, and making affordable housing contribution schemes mandatory for all councils.

The Draft Sydney Plan is the first of four regional plans, which will provide consistent strategic directions statewide and underpin the government’s reforms to create a fit-for-purpose planning system.

2. A new approach to strategic planning: Discussion paper

Proposing a simplified three-tiered planning framework, the model comprises a State Land Use Plan to set clear statewide priorities, regional plans to guide growth and infrastructure, and Local Strategic Planning Statements to drive local delivery. It aims to reduce complexity and duplication in the current system while providing greater certainty for councils and industry across NSW.

3. Statewide policy for industrial land

The third document sets out a new approach to planning, securing and managing industrial land across NSW. It proposes categorising industrial land as state, regionally or locally significant, improving coordination and decision-making to support job creation and economic growth in key industries. The proposed policy supports the Industrial Lands Action Plan released earlier this year, which seeks to boost the supply of industrial land across the state.

“The Minns Labor Government is updating the outdated 2018 Greater Sydney Plan, setting a new direction for the long-term growth of jobs and housing so more people will be able to live, work and play in Sydney,” says Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully.

This will not only help make the planning system fit-for-purpose for current challenges but also enable a vibrant city that attracts international jobs, knowledge and industry, further driving Sydney’s economic and residential growth, he adds.

“The new Statewide Policy for Industrial Lands adds to this, supporting more jobs across the state by strengthening how we plan, secure and manage industrial land across NSW,” he notes. “The policy will help to deliver new land for job-creating investments while making sure that employment land around key infrastructure such as ports and airports is retained for the long term.”

The public can provide feedback on these documents until Friday, 27 February 2026.

Image source: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/the-sydney-plan

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