Summary of Dulwich Hill Village Urban Design Study and Recommendations In April 2020 the Inner West Council began a series of locality based urban design studies to better understand what changes needed to be made to the existing planning controls to accommodate the housing targets set by NSW State Government for the Inner West Council area.
Purpose The uplift area of Dulwich Hill Village was identified in the adopted Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2020 and the Local Strategic Planning Statement 2020 as an area able to accommodate additional housing growth in the short – medium term. The LHS identified Dulwich Hill as an investigation area given its function as an existing local centre, proximity to Dulwich Grove light rail station, and access to good current and future active transport links. The LHS anticipates the Dulwich Hill will grow to accommodate an additional 1,262 new dwellings over the next ten years, of which half (631) will be located within the Dulwich Hill Village precinct. Changes to existing planning controls are needed deliver 476 of those dwellings. The Dulwich Hill Village Urban Design Study establishes the evidence-base for changes to planning controls in a future amendment to the Inner West Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan needed to facilitate housing growth around in the study area with positive urban design outcomes that reflect the place-based character of the Dulwich Hill Village precinct.
Figure 1: Artist’s illustration looking north-east along New Canterbury Road illustrating new gateway buildings
Vision and key aims The vision for Dulwich Hill Village is for a vibrant, mixed-use community hub, anchored by the commercial and heritage core at the intersection of New Canterbury Road and Marrickville Road. Key landmark sites will signify the entry to Dulwich Hill Village from the north, with redevelopment concentrated at the intersection of New Canterbury Road and Herbert Street. This builds on the existing stock of high-quality mixed-use development, such as the library and its active ground floor uses. Improved active transport connections afforded by the new metro, as well as environmental improvements soon to be delivered by the Greenway will signify another area of transformation to the west. Building on the existing established medium density strip along Terrace Road, redevelopment is proposed along the southern edge of Terrace Road and along Hercules Street, creating a revived urban environment, with green connections to the active transport corridor. The surrounding sub-precincts will see sensitive infill development and benefit from additional street trees, and an upgraded public domain.
Figure 2: Key aims for Dulwich Hill Village
Key Recommendations The study includes a set of recommended planning controls to facilitate this housing growth through sensitive infill development. The recommendations include changes to the Inner West Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan. The illustrative masterplan for the study provided below details the main changes proposed including:
Land use zoning • •
Expanding the B2 – Local Centre zone east and west along New Canterbury Road to reinforce the mixed-use nature of the high street Rezoning selected areas near the light rail station to R4 – High Density Residential including properties fronting Hercules Street and Terrace Road
Floor space ratio (FSR) •
Increasing the floor space ratio of sites on New Canterbury Road, Hercules Street and Terrace Road
Height of building • • •
Increasing allowable building heights generally from 5-storeys currently to 6-storeys i.e., an additional two storeys fronting New Canterbury Road Allowing 6-storey buildings between Hercules Street and the rail corridor and 4-storey buildings between Hercules Street and Terrace Road Identifying two key sites that could facilitate 6 and 8-storey landmark buildings at the eastern entrance to the high street of New Canterbury Road
Other recommendations • • • • • •
Facilitating sensitive heritage redevelopment including retention of important facades on New Canterbury Road and Marrickville Road that reflect the nuanced character of the Inner West Expanding the pedestrian lane network and improving access to the upcoming extension of the GreenWay Improving pedestrian connections between New Canterbury Road and Seaview Street Increasing street tree plantings most notably on Hercules Street and Terrace Road Encouraging new developments to provide greater on-site tree canopy cover Upgrading the quality of the public domain on New Canterbury Road
Figure 3: Illustrative masterplan – showing proposed areas of change The Greenway
Intensification along New Canterbury Road, emphasising its character as a mixeduse corridor Greenway Prcinct - Medium density residential transformation, green character Open space and courtyards extending the green corrifor
New pedestrian link to Greenway