Fury over plan to knock down Inner West homes for bike paths, parks, apartments

Homes and businesses in the Inner West could be knocked down to create more bike paths and bigger parks under a plan to boost housing supply, in a move that’s left residents “blindsided”.

Residents in the Inner West have been blindsided by new plans.

Homes and businesses in the Inner West could be knocked down to create more bike paths and bigger parks under the council’s new strategy to boost housing supply, in a move residents say has left them “blindsided”.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal dozens of properties are in the firing line between Marrickville, Croydon, Ashfield and Dulwich Hill to make way for 35,000 new homes within 15 years.

According to the draft housing proposal, dubbed the “Fairer Future Plan,” Inner West Council could purchase and knock down 14 properties when they hit the market to boost public amenities.

About 60 properties could also be bulldozed to build apartment blocks with bike paths under a major rezoning.

It comes after Inner West Council knocked back the state government’s scheme to increase housing density within 400m of train stations, also known as transport-orientated developments, in favour of its own strategy.

Council has put in a request to acquire 5 houses to extend parkland and bike paths in Marrickville. Picture Thomas Lisson

Under the draft plans, six-to-eleven storey unit blocks will be built around stations, main streets and light rail stops instead to spread out high density housing and maintain local character.

In order to balance out new density, Inner West Council plans to buy and bulldoze 14 properties at market value when their owners choose to sell “in the future”.

Two properties have been flagged for eventual demolition on Marrickville Rd to turn Tuohy Lane into a “cycling and walking connection,” while a further four properties have been identified for voluntary acquisition on Greenbank Street in Marrickville to expand McNeilly Park.

The Daily Telegraph Wednesday 4 June 2025 Inner West Council Acquisitions - home and land Greenbank st Marrickville where council has put in a request to acquire 5 houses to extend parkland and bike paths.Picture Thomas Lisson

Another eight properties along Lion Street and Norton Street in Croydon have been marked to be bulldozed in the future to expand the Lion Street Playground.

About 60 properties, mostly located in Ashfield and Croydon, could be knocked down to build apartments with bike paths and wider foot paths out the front.

Under the draft rezoning, developers would be required to include the “community infrastructure” if they buy up the properties and turn them into units.

Croydon local Marina Strougaris, 62, has lived in the same house on Norton Street her entire life. She was shocked to learn council wants to eventually buy her home to build a bigger playground.

Marina Strougaris in not happy with the proposal to redevelop the Lion St park that will impact her house. Picture Thomas Lisson

“My parents bought this house in February 1969, and I have lived here all my life. I plan to live here until I die and then pass it onto my daughter … I’m not interested in selling,” she said.

“I haven’t really had much sleep … it’s taken a lot out of me.”

Fellow Croydon resident Margaret Noonan said she was “blindsided” to discover her home was listed for rezoning and developers could soon be knocking on her door.

Croydon resident Margaret Noonan. Picture: Supplied

“The first few nights (after I found out) I didn’t get much sleep … it (has) created a lot of uncertainty,” she said.

An Inner West spokesman said the council was still undergoing community consultation and has not yet locked in the plans, which were developed by external “architectural and planning experts”.

The spokesman said residents were contacted after the report was published on May 13.

“The owners of the small number of properties identified were doorknocked and received a letter as soon as the plans were made publicly available,” he said.

Originally published as Fury over plan to knock down Inner West homes for bike paths, parks, apartments