Waterloo
Renewal Project
See information from our recent community engagement sessions
You can view the information displays from the Community Information and Feedback Sessions.
You can view the presentation from the Online Session.
Overview
Waterloo South is one of Sydney’s largest urban renewal projects. It will deliver a new neighbourhood with a mix of social, affordable and market housing, alongside shops, services, parks and community facilities.
The NSW Government is working with the Renewal Partner, which includes:
- Stockland – leading design, planning and construction
- Community Housing Providers – Link Wentworth, City West Housing, Birribee Housing – managing the new social and affordable housing and providing wrap around tenant support.
Homes NSW is the NSW Government agency responsible for social housing, relocations and tenant participation in Waterloo.
What’s happening now
The planning rules for Waterloo South were finalised in 2022 after many years of community input. We’re now moving to the next step – preparing planning applications that will guide how Waterloo South is designed and built in the future.
Work has started on the first major planning application – a Concept State Significant Development Application (Concept Application).
The Concept Application will set the ’big picture‘ plan and overall structure of Waterloo South to guide future detailed planning.
It will include a Concept Plan that outlines:
Where new homes, shops, parks, streets and openspaces are proposed to go.
The proposed building ‘envelopes’ (locations,heights and land uses).
At the same time, we will be proposing to make some updates to the planning rules for Waterloo South in the Sydney LEP and the Waterloo Estate(South) Design Guide, so that they match the Concept Application. This is called a rezoning, and it will be prepared and lodged alongside the Concept Application.
This phase doesn't include detailed building designs yet—those come later in detailed Development Applications.
Consultation on the draft Concept Plan, Concept Application and rezoning took place between October and December 2025 and has now concluded. Community feedback during consultation is being reviewed and will inform the finalisation of the Concept Application and rezoning before lodgement.
About the draft Concept Plan
The Waterloo renewal project will enhance the strength and diversity of Waterloo, a unique urban village on Gadigal Land. The renewal will deliver new homes, community places, and green spaces which prioritise the health and wellbeing of social housing tenants and more sustainable mixed communities.
New and better homes for all
- Around 3,000 new homes
- 50% of new homes as social and affordable housing
- More homes for Aboriginal people
- More comfortable and accessible homes for older people, key workers and families
- Designed so that buildings can’t be identified by their tenure type – social, affordable or market
Click here to see a draft plan of the proposed location and shape of social, affordable and market buildings in 3D. A 2D version of the Plan is available here.
A draft concept artist’s impression, to help you picture where buildings, green space and roads will be, is also available here. Noting that detailed design of buildings will not start until about March 2026.
New community spaces, shops and services
- Community facilities located near open spaces to support gathering and social connection
- A variety of spaces – for cultural expression, local services, health and wellbeing, and learning
- Skills exchange and redeployment hub to deliver jobs and training pathways
- Retail spaces for supermarkets, cafes and local businesses
Click here to see a draft plan of the proposed location for community and other ‘active’ uses.
A green, leafy and sustainable neighbourhood
- Two new public parks for everyone to enjoy
- A variety of additional green spaces – pocket parks, plazas and courtyards – to gather, relax and connect with neighbours
- Tree-lined streets that are leafy, cool and people-friendly
- Landscaping in outdoor spaces designed to manage rainwater, reduce heat, and keep Waterloo South cooler and healthier
Click here to see a draft plan of the proposed location of parks and outdoor spaces
Safe and convenient connections
- George Street becomes a lively, green and welcoming main street
- A creative, vibrant Cooper Street connecting the new parks
- Prioritising walking and cycling by closing key streets to cars
- Wider and safer connections across the precinct, including ‘shared zones’ where people are proiritised
- New streets:
Click here to see a draft plan of the proposed streets and connections
Designing with Country
We acknowledge the deep and ongoing connection of Aboriginal people to Waterloo and Redfern. Our goal is to weave Aboriginal culture and knowledge through every part of Waterloo South – not just in planning and design but in construction and activation.
It starts with Connecting with Country – listening to and learning from Gadigal Traditional Custodians, Elders, Knowledge Holders, and local Aboriginal residents and organisations to embed their cultural values and aspirations into every aspect of the Project.
Designing with Country is about translating these values into the new buildings and spaces of Waterloo South – where Aboriginal cultural narratives are visible, respected, and celebrated.
Several Designing with Country sessions are being held with the local Aboriginal community to continue to share, evolve and develop the emerging Designing with Country principles for Waterloo South. These principles will continue to evolve through ongoing conversations with the Aboriginal community.
Benefits of the draft Concept Plan and proposed changes
The overall scale of the Waterloo South renewal was approved in 2022 after many years of consultation.
The approval set new planning rules in the Sydney Local Environmental Plan to deliver over 3,000 new homes, and a Design Guide showing what future buildings might look like. However, there are a few inconsistencies between these two documents that impact how many homes could be delivered.
Information about the past approval is available on the NSW Government’s Waterloo South planning page.
Building on the 2022 approval and the emerging Designing with Country principles, the draft Concept Plan is designed to make Waterloo South an even more comfortable, safe, green and connected place for everyone.
The draft Concept Plan does not propose to increase the overall amount of development or the number of homes already allowed under the planning rules. It keeps a similar skyline, with four tall towers and the rest as mostly mid to low-rise buildings.
The location and size of some of the buildings is slightly different when compared to the Design Guide – with some buildings getting lower or removed, and others getting taller.
These changes are designed to provide:
More sunlight to homes, courtyards, parks and public spaces – including 7% more sunlight to the park in Stage 1
New outdoor spaces – including additional pocket parks and plazas
Safer, wider and clearer connections between buildings
More space in outdoor areas to retain more mature trees
A more ‘open’ feel at the street level
Tenure equity across all housing types, including the 50% of homes to be delivered as social and affordable housing.
Come along to one of the upcoming sessions – online or in person – to see more detailed plans about what’s proposed, ask us questions and provide your feedback.
Next steps
Concept Application and rezoning
Early 2026: We will use community feedback to finalise the Concept Application and rezoning.
Around March 2026: We will lodge the Concept Application and rezoning with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI).
After lodgement: DPHI places the Concept Application and rezoning on Public Exhibition and community can make formal submissions. We review submissions and may make changes to the application or rezoning in response. DPHI assess the documents and make a decide whether or not to approve the application and rezoning.
Detailed Applications for Stage 1
Early 2026: We start to prepare Detailed Applications for Stage 1. We will provide updates on this website about when we’ll consult with community about the Detailed Applications for Stage 1.
Drop-In at Waterloo Connect
Meet Stockland’s team, see the draft plan, ask questions and share feedback.
Online Community Information & Feedback Session
The session held on Monday 3 November 5pm – 6.30pm provided the opportunity to meet Stockland’s team online, see the draft plan, ask questions and share feedback.
Click here to view the slides from the information and feedback session.
Community Information & Feedback Sessions
The sessions held on Tuesday 18 November and Saturday 22 November provided the opportunity to see the draft plan, ask questions and share feedback. Community members were able to meet Stockland’s team and team members from the Community Housing Providers.
Click here to view the displays from the information and feedback session.
Neighbourhood Pop-ups
Talk to staff at information stalls near your home. See the draft plan, ask questions and share feedback.
Tenant and service provider sessions
We’re holding additional sessions specifically for tenants and local services providers. If you’re a tenant or service provider, you should have received information about these sessions. If you haven’t, or you would like more information about how to get involved, please contact us.
Thank you for being part of shaping Waterloo South’s future.
Information Displays
Community Information and Feedback Sessions held in November 2025.
Presentation
Online Information and Feedback Session held in November 2025.
Draft Concept Plan
Indicative Render Draft Concept Plan – Proposed Building Layout and Tenure Distribution
Draft Concept Plan
Proposed Building Layout
Draft Concept Plan
Proposed Community and Active Uses
Draft Concept Plan
Proposed Open Space
Draft Concept Plan
Proposed Streets and Links
Project location
Waterloo south covers about 65% of the Waterloo Estate and is the first stage of the renewal. It will be redeveloped over the next 10 to 15 years.
What about the rest of the Waterloo Estate?
Other parts of the Waterloo Estate, known as Waterloo Central and Waterloo North, consist of high rise buildings. These high rise-buildings will not be developed now.
Relocations
For questions about relocations please visit the Homes NSW Waterloo renewal project page.