This Sydney suburb is in line for 9000 new homes. Two councils are fighting back

Two councils are resisting a state-led plan to build more than 9000 homes in Sydney’s north-west, with one calling for the “haphazard and unjustified” development to be scrapped and the other requesting the number of dwellings be slashed.

The NSW government in November unveiled plans to build a precinct in Cherrybrook and rezone the area to add thousands of homes within walking distance of the metro station, one plank in their uphill battle to deliver 377,000 new homes by 2029 under the National Housing Accord.

Under the plan, up to 9350 homes could be built over the next 36 years, up from the 3200 dwelling capacity outlined in the now-scrapped Cherrybrook Place Strategy from 2022. Building heights would reach a maximum of 28 storeys in the town centre, with a gradual reduction to three-storey, mid-rise apartments and terraces on the edge of the precinct.

The 55-hectare site is under two council jurisdictions, split in half by the metro line. More than 5000 homes are earmarked in the Hills Shire Council and more than 4200 are in Hornsby Shire Council.

The Hills Shire Council in a meeting on Tuesday night rejected the proposal in full, warning it could “overwhelm infrastructure” and “undermine years of strategic planning”.

Twelve councillors unanimously voted for a pause to the implementation of the proposal and an urgent meeting with the NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully.

Liberal mayor Michelle Byrne described the plan as a “direct threat to the liveability, infrastructure capacity and character of The Hills”.

“[Increasing] the number of units on The Hills Shire side without the schools, roads or services to support them, is not planning – it’s dumping density and walking away. Our schools, roads and services are already stretched. This proposal would push them beyond breaking point,” she said.

More than 19,000 people live in Cherrybrook, and about 4000 people tap on at the metro station each weekday. The third-biggest public school in the state, with 2095 students – Cherrybrook Technology High School – is less than three kilometres from the proposed precinct and this year eclipsed its enrolment cap of 1580.

While neighbouring Hornsby Shire Council supports the development “in principle”, a report highlights the conditions that would need to be met to win full approval.

Chief among the concerns was a request to lower the maximum number of homes to “reduce potential overdevelopment”, questions about when and how accompanying infrastructure will be funded and the ability of the existing road network and metro line to support the growing population.

In a council meeting on Wednesday night, Liberal mayor Warren Waddell cited the previous 2022 development plan for Cherrybrook and said the council was “still literally in a tug of war with the government over the original plan”.

Scully said the precinct, which is close to transport, open space and services, made Cherrybrook an “ideal location” for more homes in a high-demand area. He will look at the final rezoning proposal for consideration before the outcome is determined in 2026.

“Developments like this are crucial as we look to restore housing choice in Sydney, so people are no longer forced out of the city and can live within the community they choose,” he said.

“This proposal will unlock hundreds of jobs and thousands of new homes in Cherrybrook alongside more open space and a new town centre to create a vibrant, leafy precinct just steps away from the metro.”

The Minns government on Wednesday released its draft Sydney Plan with a strategy to guide development for an extra 1.2 million residents in the next 20 years.

The government also announced in September its plan to undertake a major overhaul of the planning system as part of a broader push to cut back housing sprawl on Sydney’s fringes, by increasing density and amenities near train stations and bus interchanges.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.