North Appin: Government deciding if Ingham Property Group’s proposal to build 3000 homes should go on public exhibition

A new primary school, retail centre, and 3000 new homes are all on the cards if a major planning proposal in Appin is approved by the government.

View north from internal site road of dam within Lily Ponds Gully. Picture: NSW Planning Portal

A bold plan to deliver 3000 new homes over 10 years on Sydney’s outskirts to help boost the city’s housing supply is currently being assessed by the NSW Government with the developer confirming it is consulting on a “timely” solution to upgrade the notorious Appin Rd.

The planning proposal for North Appin, submitted by the Ingham Property Group (IPG) is currently at the gateway determination, which is a checkpoint for a whether it should proceed to public exhibition.

The site is among three at Appin which were placed on a priority list for fast-track assessment last year by the former state government as it looked to open up more space for housing around Sydney.

If approved, the project would deliver 300 homes per year from 2026 to 2036, implement a koala corridor along Ousedale Creek and five per cent of medium density dwellings would be affordable housing.

View west from former poultry location. Picture: NSW Planning Portal

IPG CEO Matthew Ramaley said he was excited to deliver the project at 345 Appin Rd after working with NSW Government agencies for the better part of two decades on the Greater Macarthur Growth corridor.

He said the proposal was highly compliant with the state’s draft precinct plans for the area and it would deliver new homes at a variety of price points.

“This critical new supply will help bring prices down and give more Australians a viable entry point into the dream of homeownership in a great community,” Mr Ramaley said.

“Our proposal includes a new primary school, retail centre, ample open spaces, walking trails, playing fields and community facilities.

“[It] will preserve our side of the Ousedale Creek koala corridor by setting aside our Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan areas plus further critical areas as protected.”

Mr Ramaley said the primary school site identified had attracted strong interest from two top tier private school operators and the adjoining multidisciplinary community facility site and a retail centre would provide a supermarket, retail shops, services and medical centre services.

“We will preserve the future fast transit corridor through our site until such time that it becomes feasible through population growth,” he said.

“We want to see Appin Rd upgraded to make it safer for the community and the local koala population.

“We have been working with the local member, Greg Warren MP, and other major landowners on a comprehensive solution involving the deployment of a portion of our statutory contributions to upgrade Appin Rd.”

In July, one of those sites – owned by developing giant Walker Corporation – was given the green light to build 12,900 homes.

But, Wollondilly Shire mayor Matt Gould has been outspoken on the issue and slammed the proposals multiple times saying there needed to be meaningful commitment to roads, public transport, schools, hospitals or other essential services.

“Right now, Appin Rd remains a death trap, the linkage between Appin and the Wilton growth area is a single lane bridge built in the 1800s, there is no public transport, and the area is highly bushfire prone with a long history of significant fire impacts that need to be properly addressed,” he said in July.