A coalition of industry groups and academics is advocating for increased residential development along Sydney’s busiest transport corridors as part of a broader effort to address the state’s housing shortage. The Housing Now! alliance has identified 10 key routes, including Parramatta Road, Canterbury Road, Church Street in Parramatta’s “Auto Alley,” the Great Western Highway, and the northern beaches’ B-Line route, as prime locations for higher-density housing projects.
The alliance argues that these major arteries, which currently serve as crucial travel routes, offer untapped potential to support more sustainable, vibrant communities. David Borger, chair of Housing Now!, described Sydney’s main roads as “lifeblood of cities” that are poised to evolve over the next decade. He noted that many of these corridors are transitioning from heavily trafficked transport routes into more pedestrian-friendly, livable urban spaces.
Borger highlighted the anticipated shift from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric cars as a key factor in this transformation. According to him, the expected reduction in noise and pollution from electric vehicle adoption will enhance the appeal of these corridors as locations for dense residential developments. He emphasized that these areas are currently underutilized in terms of housing supply and could provide significant capacity for future growth.
In addition to developing along existing transport routes, Housing Now! is calling on the government to establish 20 new transport-oriented development (TOD) hubs. These hubs would be strategically placed around local centers to encourage increased housing supply and community accessibility. The proposal includes five hubs in regional areas, eight in Western Sydney, and seven in established Sydney suburbs.
To facilitate this vision, the alliance recommends changes to existing planning controls to ensure that new TOD hubs deliver a meaningful increase in housing stock. By concentrating growth around well-connected transport corridors and hubs, proponents believe the state can create greener streets, stronger pedestrian networks, and more vibrant neighborhoods.
The initiative reflects broader discussions within urban planning circles about how to address housing shortages while promoting sustainable and livable cities. Housing Now!’s proposals seek to balance the need for increased housing supply with environmental and community benefits linked to improved urban design and transport infrastructure.