Inner West Council has released the second stage of its housing plan for feedback. It covers parts of 15 suburbs and is open for comment until Wednesday 28 October 2026.
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Why Inner West Council Has Its Own Housing Plan
The NSW Government is requiring every council to deliver more housing. Its approach has included rezonings applied across whole areas.
Inner West Council has pushed back on those rezonings. In Council's media release, Mayor Darcy Byrne says:
"The government's policy has resulted in top-down rezonings across the whole that fail to consider the unique character, heritage and amenity of different areas. That's why we have fought hard to force the government to agree to rescind these rezonings, in return for us submitting our own housing plan."
Our Fairer Future is that plan. Stage 1 was adopted at an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 30 September 2025. It focused mainly on the southern parts of the Inner West. It's now with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for review and approval.
Council says its plans will deliver thousands of new homes. The release doesn't give a figure for Stage 2.
Images: Inner West Council’s Our Fairer Future Plan 2 interactive map.
What's in the Fairer Future Plan 2
Stage 2 mostly covers suburbs that weren't part of Stage 1, plus some sites held over from it. It has four main parts.
Croydon and Iron Cove: This area was part of Stage 1, but Council held it back to line up with Burwood Council's plans for its side of Croydon. Burwood has since allowed taller buildings north of the railway line. Council has now revised its plan after that work and community feedback.
Deferred sites: Some sites in Ashfield, Dulwich Hill, Marrickville and Leichhardt were held back from Stage 1 for more investigation. They're now back on the table.
Additional sites: Council has assessed extra locations in Marrickville, Ashfield, Rozelle and Balmain.
Housing investigation areas: Council's studies point to room for more homes in parts of Lilyfield, Leichhardt, Annandale, Lewisham, Petersham, Stanmore, Enmore, Newtown and St Peters.
Council has also identified Homes NSW-owned land as a possible opportunity for more social and affordable housing. Its supporting plan document specifically refers to 438 Illawarra Road, Marrickville. It says any changes should protect the site’s existing affordable and social housing, describing this as a “no net loss” position. That is a safeguard against losing existing homes, not a commitment to add more affordable housing.
Apart from the deferred sites and Croydon and Iron Cove, Council says no changes are proposed to areas already looked at in Stage 1.
Does It Affect My Street?
Probably not your whole suburb. The plan only covers parts of each suburb on the list.
The quickest way to check is Council's interactive map. Search your address to see any proposed changes.
Council says no one will be forced to sell their home. A change to the planning rules affects what could be built on a site in future.
If you want the detail, the Your Say page has the full document library. It includes a draft master plan, a draft design guide, heritage reviews, flood impact assessments, a transport plan and an economic feasibility report.
What Else Council Announced
Plan 2 comes with a few other pieces of work. Council's release lists:
A new Affordable Housing Policy with targets for more affordable homes across the Inner West.
Better Connecting the Inner West, Council's vision for the transport upgrades it says are needed to support more housing. It includes rapid transit on Parramatta Road, better buses, trains and light rail, and new cycleways. This is a Council vision, not a list of funded projects.
Building Our Community, a long-term plan for open space, community facilities and infrastructure.
Housing on church land. Council is working with churches and faith-based charities to redevelop their land for housing. 30% of homes on those sites would need to be social housing.
Images: Inner West Council’s Our Fairer Future Plan 2 interactive map.
How to Have Your Say
Feedback is open until Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Drop-in sessions
Petersham Service Centre, 2-14 Fisher Street: Monday 12 October, 4-7:30pm and Saturday 24 October, 1-3pm
Marrickville Library Pavilion, 313 Marrickville Road: Wednesday 14 October, 4-7:30pm
Ashfield Service Centre, 260 Liverpool Road: Thursday 15 October, 5:30-8:30pm and Saturday 17 October, 10am-12pm
Jimmy Little Community Centre, 19 Cecily Street, Lilyfield: Saturday 17 October, 1-3pm and Monday 19 October, 3-7:30pm
Leichhardt Service Centre, 7-15 Wetherill Street: Wednesday 21 October, 4-7:30pm and Saturday 24 October, 10am-12pm
Talk to a planner
You can book a 15-minute appointment with a Council planner through the Your Say page. Walk-in duty planners are also available Tuesday to Thursday, 9:30-11:30am, at the Ashfield, Petersham and Leichhardt service centres.
Make a submission
Fill in the online survey on Your Say Inner West
Email [email protected]
Post to PO Box 14, Petersham NSW 2049
What Happens Next
Once feedback closes, Council will put a revised proposal to councillors in December. It says it will also publish what it heard during consultation.
Nothing in Plan 2 changes the planning rules yet. It's a draft, and Stage 1 is still waiting on State approval.
