Government housing development in Canley Heights approved

A multi million-dollar NSW Government plan to bring affordable housing townhouses to Canley Heights has been decided upon.

An artists illustration of the proposed development as per planning documents.

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A fenced block of land that has sat empty in Canley Heights for years will be transformed after an application to have it developed was approved.

The NSW Government will build 26 townhouses and villas on land at Kiora and Arbutus St as part of an affordable rental housing development.

The complex – approved by the Sydney Western City Planning Panel – will be one of many projects intended to offset the growing demand for social housing in Fairfield City.

“There will continue to be a rising demand for social housing in the Fairfield Local Government Area,” a spokeswoman for the NSW Planning, Industry and Environment said.

“As at June 2019, there were 3,657 applicants on the waiting list for the Fairfield allocation zone, which includes Canley Heights.

“The expected waiting time for new dwellings is greater than 10 years.”

The location of the proposed social housing development, as per planning documents.

The proposed layout of the development, as per planning documents.

About $8 million will be spent constructing the 21 townhouses and five villas. They will come in two- and three-bedroom variations, and be on a site that has 29 car spaces.

The townhouses will reach two-storeys tall, in a part of Canley Heights characterised by single- and double-storey houses, and three-storey apartment buildings.

The proposal will take up almost the entire block. Currently it’s a grassy patch enclosed by a wired fence with more than 40 trees, but it’s estimated 25 of them will have to be removed to make room.

An artists illustration of the proposed development as per planning documents.

Previously the 5845 sqm land comprised of ten individual lots. The State Government’s application consolidates them into one lot that can be developed.

This is not the first development plan to be pitched for the land. Plans were approved in 2001 but they were never acted upon.

The spokeswoman said they couldn’t provide guidance on how much the properties will cost to rent.

“The … new social housing in the Fairfield Local Government Area to meet the needs of those on the social housing wait list,” she said.

“Further detail on the types of dwellings will be made available in due course.”

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