Build to rent homes for essential workers in Sydney take off

New homes for rent at a subsidised rate are on the way for essential workers in Sydney with the Minns Labor Government today announcing the first site of it’s essential worker Build-to-Rent plan.

Funded through the Minns Labor Government’s $450 million investment to deliver housing for essential workers, the Government’s developer Landcom will transform the former WestConnex dive site in Camperdown to deliver:

• at least 200 build-to-rent units offered to essential workers like health workers, paramedics, teachers, police officers and firefighters at a discount to market rent, through a separate subsidy
• approximately 300 additional units, including private units and a proportion of affordable rental housing
• ground-floor retail or commercial, landscaped outdoor spaces and new pedestrian links, enhancing the neighbourhood’s amenity and vibrancy.

The site was identified under the NSW Government’s Land Audit, which set out to find surplus government land that had been sitting unused and could be used to develop more homes.

Landcom and Homes NSW were given first pick of the land audit sites, with this being the first site to be developed by Landcom.

The site is well-located, close to transport, public spaces, amenities and education and health centres including one of Sydney’s largest hospitals, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Community and stakeholders will have the opportunity to help shape the design of the mixed-use development as the applications progresses through consultation.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026, pending approvals, with the first essential workers moving in around 2028.

The Camperdown site is the first secured by Landcom as part of the NSW Government’s build-to-rent essential worker housing program, with Landcom investigating additional sites.

Landcom is also expected to start construction this year on 110 build-to-rent units in NSW’s Northern Rivers and South Coast, boosting rental supply in regions feeling the combined stresses of rising rents and lack of housing availability.

The Government will retain ownership of the build-to-rent housing. Details about eligibility criteria, how to apply and the rental subsidy will be available closer to project completion.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild our essential services while delivering critical new housing for those who need it across NSW.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“Essential workers are feeling the impact of the immense cost of housing and many can’t afford to live near their jobs. That’s why our plan is delivering this well-located, secure and accessible rental housing for the essential workers who keep Sydney running.

“The former WestConnex dive site in Sydney’s Inner West has sat unused for years and thanks to our plan to identify vacant land, it will now to deliver housing for essential workers close to their jobs.

“Every single day essential workers turn up to work keep our state running, the very least we can do is make sure that they have access to the housing they need, near their jobs at an affordable price.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Camperdown site is the first secured by Landcom as part of the NSW Government’s $450 million investment to deliver more than 400 build-to-rent homes for essential workers in metropolitan Sydney, closer to their jobs and services.

“The new rental homes in Sydney’s Inner West will ease the pressure on essential workers employed nearby, providing greater housing choice, security and affordability, improving quality of life.

“The development will transform unused Government-owned land with new homes for renters and buyers, while rejuvenating a key part of the Parramatta Road corridor.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

"The land audit is delivering and this site is proof. Instead of collecting dust, this site will help deliver much needed housing as part of approximately 7,000 new homes identified by the land audit.

“The Minns Government is focused on building better communities and this large site will support our number one priority of delivering more housing for the people of NSW."

Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said:

”This is about providing much-needed affordable housing for the next generation of Sydneysiders so they can continue to live and work in their local areas.

“Key workers are being priced out of their own communities, making it harder to build a future where they live and work. This investment is about backing them in—giving nurses, teachers and first responders more affordable rental options close to their jobs so they can keep doing the work that keeps our city running."

Mayor of Inner West Council Darcy Bryne said:

”We desperately need more affordable housing for essential workers in the Inner West and this project will make a real dent in the problem.”

“For years people have talked about the Parramatta Road corridor as being an ideal location for higher density housing, this project will actually make that happen.”