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