NSW government reveals Glebe public housing strategy

A Glebe public housing demolition will be canned, vacant units renovated and a controversial redevelopment will still go ahead in the government’s housing plan.

Demolition of an inner city public housing estate will be stopped and existing vacant housing renovated in a NSW government plan to increase social housing.

The previous government had slated the Franklyn St estate at Glebe for redevelopment.

Housing Minister Rose Jackson will on Saturday announce the redevelopment plans, which would have only created a handful more public housing residences and more than 400 private dwellings, have been scrapped.

The housing plan will also see 35 vacant properties at Glebe refurbished for new public housing tenants.

Plans to redevelop public housing at 82 Wentworth Park Rd will continue as planned after residents staged a five-night protest against privatisation.

Protests are common at Glebe public housing blocks. Picture: NCA NewsWire

So far five properties have already been renovated, 21 are currently being restored and nine further properties will be revamped in the coming months.

Ms Jackson said the new dwellings would be 100 per cent government owned and delivered by the soon to be created Homes NSW.

A concept image of the proposed new housing at 82 Wentworth Park Road in Glebe.

“We recognise that communication around decision making to tenants hasn’t been good enough, and we are committed to improving that,” she said.

“Existing tenants will be offered the option to temporarily relocate to the local area and a right of return to the new homes when they are built.”

The redevelopment will bring the number of dwellings at the site from 17 to 43, while the continued redevelopment of public housing at Cowper St will increase housing from 19 to 75 dwellings.
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