The finalisation of the scheme brings all 13 councils on board with the Transport Oriented Development program. 

The scheme replaces the original Transport Oriented Development planning controls for precincts at Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville, and provides for an additional 3,300 homes. It also prioritises new open space and infrastructure, while protecting the area’s heritage.

The scheme allows for taller, mixed-use buildings in existing centres and seeks to protect high-value heritage conservation areas and buildings. 

Key features of the new scheme include:

• Focusing new housing in Gordon and Lindfield, allowing for more high-density mixed-use development, with buildings in the centres ranging from 6-24 storeys (and up to 28 storeys on a key site at Gordon).
• A more moderate housing uplift in Killara and Roseville, with buildings up to 8 storeys in these areas so they transition smoothly between high-density and low-density and heritage areas.
• Boosting affordable housing, with up to 10% of dwellings required for affordable housing on key sites, depending on site feasibility.
• Rezoning some residential areas within 800 metres of train stations for apartment buildings.
• Transitioning building heights near low-density areas to reduce the impact of new development on neighbouring properties.

Testing of the alternative scheme indicates it will provide capacity for approximately 24,728 homes, compared with 21,430 homes possible under the previous TOD controls.

More than 290 written submissions were received by Council following public exhibition of the alternative scheme in April 2025. Council considered the submissions in finalising the alternative scheme submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in June.

Importantly, all development applications lodged or State significant development applications with valid Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements will not be impacted and will continue to be assessed under the TOD SEPP controls.

To make sure the scheme delivers the best outcome for Ku-ring-Gau the NSW Government made a few changes to Council’s plan including:

• Increasing height and floor space controls for key sites in Gordon and Lindfield to allow for well-designed taller buildings.
• Changes to heights to improve transitions to surrounding heritage items and heritage conservation areas.
• Amendment of some affordable housing contribution rates to deliver affordable housing on council-owned land.

The new planning controls are set out in the Council’s Local Environmental Plan and enable the alternative scheme to take effect. For more information on the Transport Oriented Development program, visit NSW Planning.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is a great outcome which will deliver more homes close to transport, jobs and services while also protecting heritage, and responding directly to what the people of Ku-ring-gai said they value most.

“Importantly the new scheme is set to deliver an additional 3,330 and even more affordable homes. 

“The Minns Labor Government introduced Transport Oriented Development to increase the supply of well-located homes in areas with existing infrastructure and this scheme does exactly that.”