Development near transport corridors requires careful planning to prevent conflicts, ensure safety, and protect the operation of transport infrastructure.

Interim guideline

The Development Near Rail Corridors and Busy Roads – Interim Guideline (PDF, 4.3 MB) provides standards for building near transport infrastructure. It helps ensure new development works well with existing railways and major roads.

Read the guideline   
View of a train passing by at Homebush train station, Sydney. Credit: NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
 
Credit: NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure

When the guideline applies

The guideline applies to development under specific sections 2.98, 2.99, 2.100, 2.120, and 2.121 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 (Transport and Infrastructure SEPP). It provides practical information on planning, designing, and assessing developments in these locations.

The guideline can also provide useful guidance for other development, not covered by the Transport and Infrastructure SEPP, that may be impacted by, or may impact on, rail corridors or busy roads.

Who should use this guideline

The guideline provides advice to councils, state agencies, proponents and the community on ways to avoid and manage the impact of road and rail operations on surrounding land uses and the impact of surrounding land uses on road and rail infrastructure. Before determining a relevant development application, a consent authority must, amongst other matters, take into consideration this interim guideline to minimise the impacts of busy roads and railway corridors on residential and other sensitive development such as schools and childcare centres.

This guideline also assists in seeking concurrence from the rail authority for excavation in or adjacent to rail corridors specified in Chapter 2 of the Transport and Infrastructure SEPP. This includes providing information on considering if the development is likely to affect the structural integrity of road and rail infrastructure or the operation of existing or proposed rail infrastructure facilities in the rail corridor.

The key objectives of the guideline are to:  

  • protect the safety and integrity of key road and rail infrastructure from adjacent development, particularly from excavation in or adjacent to transport corridors
  • assist in reducing the impacts from adverse noise, vibration or electrolysis on sensitive development adjacent to rail corridors
  • assist in reducing the impacts from adverse road noise, vibration and air quality on sensitive development
  • provide planning, design and assessment guidance to ensure that residential development adjacent to rail corridors and busy roads meet the internal noise criteria specified in Chapter 2 of the Transport and Infrastructure SEPP.

More information

For further information, email the policy team at [email protected]