90,000 new homes to be built North West Priority Growth Area to cope with huge rise in population

A RISE in the housing forecast for the north west, including Box Hill, Marsden Park, Schofields and Riverstone, from 70,000 dwellings to 90,000 has prompted a NSW Government growth blueprint.

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A HUGE rise in the housing forecast for the North West Priority Growth Area from 70,000 dwellings to 90,000 has prompted the NSW Government to announce a blueprint for the next decade.

The area covers the suburbs of Box Hill, Marsden Park, Schofields and Riverstone, with the government also announcing an expanded suburb to host 4,300 new homes in West Schofields, with 300 more ha being released for development.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said the new homes at the growth area will suit a variety of budgets and life stages for buyers while 750 hectares of land containing existing native vegetation will be protected and at least 300,000 trees planted.

An artist’s impression of part of the North West Priority Growth Area.

“We have a housing affordability crisis in this city and we need to do all we can to lift supply and get new homeowners in the market,” Mr Roberts said.

“The plan ... will provide housing for more than 90,000 people over the next decade and boost the region economically.

“The plan will see 18,000 new homes, including freestanding homes and terraces, built over the next five years, and 33,000 in the northwest over the next 10 years.

The Ponds is one of the most successful community developments in NSW.

“This area of Sydney is becoming an increasingly popular place for people to call home and the strategy focuses on how we are going to increase housing supply to help people break into the market.

“The plan provides robust plans to grow communities with access to schools, open space, jobs, roads and public transport.”

Mr Roberts said current and new communities would benefit from the Sydney Metro Northwest rail link, due to open in 2019.

Sydney's Northwest blueprint map.

The plan includes a corridor for a future extension of the Sydney Metro Northwest from Cudgegong Rd Station to Marsden Park.

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly said work is progressing rapidly in the priority growth area and he told Rouse Hill Times that he expects it to be ready much earlier than earlier date of 2036.

“The reason for new plans for the North West Priority Growth Area is because we didn’t expect to get so many DAs approved so soon,” Mr Conolly said.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts. Picture: Kym Smith

“Some of the areas, like The Ponds, are already developed.

”I am very happy with what we are doing to address the housing challenge that NSW is facing as the only way to stabilise the prices of houses is to increase demand.

“I don’t think the prices will come down but it will stabilise.”

A detailed draft land use plan for the whole Schofields West precinct will be out on public exhibition later this year.