4. Land Use and Design Concepts for RWA Strategic Sites

This section outlines the land use and design concept for
the eight RWA’s strategic sites. The land use and design concept for each
strategic site comprises the following: description of the existing character;
description of the existing land use zone; proposed land use concept; proposed
design concept; and proposed land use zone.

The proposed land uses and design concepts are illustrated
in the accompanying land use, height and floor space ratio (FSR) diagrams that
have been prepared for each of RWA’s strategic sites.

The land use and design concepts for each site reinforce the
broader land use and design principles included in the previous section. Indicative
locations of publicly accessible open space and items of heritage are discussed
in Section 3 of the Plan.

The proposed land use zones are based on the land use zones
included in the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006
under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 prepared by the
Department of Planning.

A comparison between existing and proposed planning controls
for RWA’s strategic sites has led to the following conclusions:

  • Floor
    space controls for the former Local Court House, Rachel
    Forster Hospital
    and Redfern Public School sites are compatible
    with existing floor space ratios and height controls surrounding these
    sites. It is noted that the South Sydney Local Environmental Plan does not
    prescribe floor space ratio or height controls for these sites.
  • The
    maximum floor space ratio for the southern part of the Eveleigh Street site adjoining the
    existing 2 storey terraces has increased from 1:1 to 1.5:1 with a maximum
    residential floor space ratio of 0.75:1. This is intended to encourage
    employment and mixed uses as well as to provide for some residential
    development. The maximum height has increased from 2 to 3 storeys to
    support development while also ensuring compatibility with adjacent
    residential development, character of the area and sensitivity to the
    site’s orientation.
  • The
    maximum floor space ratio on the eastern part of the Eveleigh Street site which is
    adjacent to the railway line has been increased from 1:1 to 2:1 with a
    maximum residential floor space ratio of 1:1. The maximum height has been
    increased from 3 to 5 storeys. The existing open space zone adjacent to
    the railway line will be rezoned to ‘Business Zone-Mixed Use’ with an
    overall maximum floor space ratio of 2:1 and maximum residential floor space
    ratio of 1:1. The maximum height has been increased to 5 storeys. This
    will encourage employment and mixed uses as well as allow some residential
    development. The 5 storey height limit is an extension of the maximum
    height permitted to the north and will facilitate a built form which could
    provide a barrier between the railway line and the lower density
    development to the west.
  • Activities
    on the northern part of the Eveleigh
    Street site (north of Vine and Holden
    Streets) are predominantly non-residential at present. The proposed mixed
    use zoning is consistent with the existing land use zoning. Lot sizes, existing character, proximity to the
    Redfern Railway Station and Cleveland
    Street and the site’s orientation offer the
    opportunity to encourage a greater proportion of employment generating
    uses, which is reflected in a higher floor space ratio and height. The
    maximum overall floor space ratio has been increased from 1.5:1 to 3:1
    with a maximum residential floor space ratio of 1:1. Existing 3 and 4
    storey limits have been increased to 5 storey, however a 3 storey limit
    along Vine Street
    has been maintained to ensure solar access for properties to the south.
  • The Australian Technology
    Park and South
    Eveleigh sites are important employment hubs. Proposed development
    will reflect the character of the railway yards, lot sizes and
    configuration. The ATP is physically separated from lower rise residential
    development by major roads. Where this does not occur, appropriate heights
    in the ATP and South Eveleigh adjoining
    the existing residential area have been considered. The proposed increase
    of floor space ratio and heights offers the opportunity to anchor these
    sites as major employment generating centres for the local and
    metropolitan workforce.
  • The
    Redfern Railway Station and surrounding area is distinctive and the
    proposed maximum floor space ratio of 7:1 is similar to the floor space
    ratio of 7.5:1 applying around Railway Square at Central Station (with an
    increase of 1:1 FSR subject to meeting certain requirements in the City of
    Sydney LEP).
  • North Eveleigh comprises one large land parcel
    physically separated from existing residential development by Wilson Street
    and Iverys Lane.
    A grade separation between Wilson
    Street of 3 to 5 metres further isolates the
    site. Currently there are no prescribed height limits on the site and no
    floor space ratio for residential uses. The proposed maximum floor space
    ratio of 2:1 for the western and eastern sections of the site responds to
    the larger lot sizes and building footprints characteristic of its
    previous industrial character. Future development along Wilson Street and Iverys Lane will be required to
    respect the character of the existing adjoining development.

Table 4.1 provides a summary of the existing and proposed
land use zones, height controls and floor space ratios.

Notes to accompany Table 4.1:

Existing height controls have been converted from metres to
storeys.

Existing height and floor space ratio controls do not
necessarily reflect the height and floor space ratio of existing buildings on
the sites.

For certain RWA strategic sites a maximum residential floor
space ratio component has been proposed. This is indicated in Diagram
3.4
in Section 3.

[The Land
use and Design Concepts proposed in the Final RWA Redfern-Waterloo Built
Environment Plan August 2006 for each State Significant Area has been added
into the section of the REDWatch website dealing with that particular area. To
avoid duplication they have not been repeated here. The links to the 8 sections
have been provided below – REDWatch].

4.1
Australian Technology Park (ATP) – Final

4.2
– North Eveleigh – Final

4.3
South Eveleigh – Final

4.4
Eveleigh Street – Final

4.5
Redfern Railway Station, Gibbons and Regent Streets – Final

4.6
Former Rachel Forster Hospital

4.7
Former Local Court House & Police Station Final

4.8
Former Redfern Public School – Final