The Sydney Plan will guide how the NSW Government manages growth in the Sydney region over the next 20 years.

 It covers 33 local government areas and lays out a plan for housing, infrastructure, jobs, sustainability and vibrant communities. The aim of the plan is to make Sydney a great place to live, work, and enjoy now and into the future. 

5.3 million people

People calling the Sydney region home in 2025

23% increase

Growth in population expected by 2045, taking the number to 6.5 million

A new generation of regional plans

The Sydney Plan is the first of the new regional strategic plans to be delivered across NSW. It demonstrates how the new statewide approach, outlined in A New Approach to Strategic Planning: Discussion Paper, is applied at a regional scale.

The Plan focuses on practical land use actions to support delivery on the ground. Through the new approach outlined in the discussion paper, the Plan can be updated more regularly to support change.

What the plan does

The Sydney Plan is the NSW Government’s 20-year strategic land use plan to direct future growth in the Sydney region. The plan guides:

  • state and local strategic planning and assessments
  • infrastructure planning and prioritisation
  • public and private investment decisions.

The Plan is shaped by the state priorities set out in A New Approach to Strategic Planning: Discussion Paper. The state priorities are:

  • Aboriginal outcomes
  • housed
  • prosperous
  • connected
  • resilient
  • liveable
  • coordinated.

The Sydney Plan spatially applies the state priorities to Sydney through targeted policy directions and actions for both the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and local councils.

Councils will be able to align their local planning documents, like Local Strategic Planning Statements and Local Environmental Plans, with the finalised Sydney Plan to deliver the priorities for their local areas.

Planning processes will continue to promote the spiritual significance of land, along with Aboriginal culture and economic self-determination.

A new approach

Learn about the suite of strategic planning documents that are on exhibition until 27 February 2026, and ready for your feedback. A webinar recording about the plans will be available shortly.

Have your say

The draft Sydney Plan is now on public exhibition on the NSW Planning Portal and open for feedback until 5 pm, 27 February 2026. After the exhibition period, all feedback will be reviewed before the final plan is released later in 2026.

Once finalised, the Sydney Plan will replace the Greater Sydney Region Plan – A Metropolis of Three Cities (2018) and associated district plans.

This is your opportunity to shape how Sydney grows and evolves over the next 20 years. Your feedback will help refine the final Sydney Plan and ensure it reflects the needs and aspirations of communities, councils, businesses and industry across the region.

To have your say, visit the NSW Planning Portal and complete the community survey or make a submission.

Have your say

Driving growth in the Sydney region

Highlights of the Sydney Plan include:

  • Supporting our growing and changing population by rebalancing housing growth and delivering accessibility to a choice of housing, jobs and services throughout the Sydney region.
  • Jobs guidance to support economic and population growth, supported by a strong, connected network of employment centres.
  • A more liveable and vibrant Sydney to enhance quality of life, creating places where people genuinely want to live.
  • Securing industrial lands to support their critical role in driving economic growth and implementing the draft Statewide Industrial Lands Policy.
  • Promoting resilient and sustainable land-use planning and urban design principles to enhance environmental outcomes and help to manage natural hazard risk to communities.

The Sydney Plan shapes a more equitable, liveable and economically strong Sydney both now and for future generations.

Aerial view of city with pool and buildings in sight.

Frequently asked questions

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More information

If you have any questions about The Sydney Plan, email [email protected]