Bella Vista, Kellyville plans for 5700 homes at Metro stations sitting vacant for two years
A desperate push to meet the state’s massive housing targets hasn’t stopped NSW Government developer Landcom from sitting on plans for more than 6000 homes. See the housing fail here.
NSW
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A desperate push to meet the state’s massive housing targets hasn’t stopped NSW Government developer Landcom from sitting on plans for more than 6000 homes next to three northwest Sydney Metro stations – two years after they were approved.
Landcom received the tick of approval for 5700 homes, as well as retail and commercial hubs, to be built next door to the Bella Vista and Kellyville Metro stations in The Hills in December 2022.
Meanwhile, in Cherrybrook a further 410 homes were greenlit as part of a rezoning review in December 2022 across a seven hectare site.
But almost two years on from the state significant concept approvals, no homes have been built at the mothballed precincts, as the entire city lags behind on the ambitious target of an estimated 52,600 homes in needs to build every year to meet with housing demand.
At the time of the approval, Landcom boss Alex Wendler promised the masterplanned developments would result in a “ flagship business precinct at Bella Vista and a local neighbourhood centre at Kellyville next to the metro station”.
But the government developer said lots of land, to be built by private developers, would be released for construction over a decade-long period.
Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne said Landcom and the NSW Government could “increase housing in The Hills by accelerating development on its land”, arguing the government developer was “blocking housing supply”.
“[Landcom] opts to release land gradually to maximise its return on investment, just like any other developer,” she said.
The government developer, overseen by Planning Minister Paul Scully, promised the Kellyville development would “offer the convenience and amenity of inner city living with connections to business, jobs and services’.
“The mix of housing will cater for different generations, lifestyles and price points, and will include a minimum of 5 per cent of Affordable Housing for very low, low and middle income earners,” the Landcom plan confirmed. “Kellyville will be pedestrian focused, with walkable lush streets featuring planted verges, large trees, and new connections along the Elizabeth Macarthur Creek.”
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Meanwhile, at Bella Vista, the developer earmarked a “business precinct” filled with shops, offices, cafes centred around a community facility and town square plaza. As well as a new homes and local parks.
On government land in Cherrybrook, the plans forecast “a welcoming place that provides a range of housing choices, open space for community activity, local retail and business spaces, a community facility and easy access to the metro”.
Two years on from the State Significant Development approvals and no construction work, or new homes, have been built on the major sites.
Planning Minister Paul Scully told The Saturday Telegraph Landcom had been “stripped ... to the bone”, claiming the former Liberal Government were “preparing to privatise the State’s only publicly-owned developer”.
“The expected land releases for new homes from Landcom over the next five years will be consistently higher than those of the last five years of the previous government,” he said.
“The Minns Labor Government is investing in Landcom to restore it to being the trusted and reliable developer that has helped to put roofs over the head of tens of thousands of people.”
“Landcom has always done staged land releases, and over next five years is expected to release land that can deliver more than 5,500 homes across the Hills.”
Meanwhile, a Landcom spokeswoman blamed the drip-feed of government land going on the market in Bella Vista, Kellyville and Cherrybrook to the delivery of infrastructure.
“Landcom has concluded community consultation for public open spaces in Bella Vista and Kellyville and expect development application approvals for public open space and community-building infrastructure next year,” she said. “As of November 2024, 3,438 homes across seven sites for the Sydney Metro Northwest program have been offered to market with around 5,743 remaining to be released over the next five years, with two thirds of the remaining lots expected to be released in the next two years.”
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