FAQs

•    Willoughby is a wonderful place to live. It is a City of diversity – landscapes, people and businesses. 

•    Our residents value our beautiful bushland, the open spaces and parks, as well as a thriving urban environment and CBD. 

•    Willoughby City Council is committed to delivering a city that is green, connected, inclusive and liveable, healthy, prosperous and vibrant.

• A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is prepared by Council to guide planning decisions for the local government area and is principally made up of a written instrument and associated maps.  Through zoning and development controls, it guides the ways in which land is used.  Specifically, the LEP states whether development:
  • is permissible on the land;
  • is subject to specific restrictions, including controls on height, minimum land area and floor space;
  • requires consent of Council.
• The LEP is prepared in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
• Council’s current LEP is Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012 (WLEP 2012).

•    Over the last five years we have engaged with our community to help us work out our planning priorities for the future.

•    The Plan is the statutory mechanism to achieve the strategic planning vision in our Local Strategic Planning Statement and Community Strategic Plan.

•    It helps us to create a better place to live – a greener place that is well connected through walking and cycling paths. 

•    It aims to provide more jobs and housing growth, more housing diversity through medium and high density living, as well as strengthening and building on the character of our CBD.

•    It will ensure the ongoing sustainability of the Willoughby area.

•    Councils are required by legislation to review their planning controls every 5-10 years.

•    We need to implement the actions contained in the Greater Sydney Commission’s North District Plan which guided Council’s recently adopted Local Strategic Planning Statement.

•    Over the last five years ahead of the North District Plan, we have engaged with our community to help us establish our planning priorities for the future.

•    The new LEP sets the scene for achieving that strategic vision.

•    It aims to provide opportunities for more jobs in our CBDs, local centres and industrial lands.

•    It aims to provide for housing growth and housing diversity to meet different needs in the population with retention without affecting low-density suburbs.

•    It aims increase accommodation in medium and high density living to strengthen the character of our centres.

•    It will help us design our homes for a sustainable and resilient future.

•    It helps us to create a healthier place to live – a greener place that is well connected through walking and cycling paths.

•    The new plan proposes changes to the rules for development in the Chatswood CBD, St Leonards in response to State jobs targets and to provide housing diversity and in Willoughby’s Local Centres to stimulate growth in local jobs and housing.

•    This includes extending the Chatswood CBD boundary north and south along the railway and prioritising the provision of commercial development in the CBD core around the transport interchange with mixed use development beyond that.

•    It proposes significant height and floor space increases to help restore and maintain Chatswood in its position among the top ten commercial locations in Sydney.

•    For the local centres, identified as Artarmon, North Willoughby, Naremburn, Castlecrag, Northbridge, Penshurst Street and South Willoughby new height and floor space controls are proposed to increase housing diversity and stimulate local economies.

•    New controls for Artarmon and East Chatswood industrial areas to allow more opportunities for technological innovations and flexibility.

•    Changes to floor space controls to gross floor area controls for some low density areas to align the controls with in the state policy State Environmental Planning Policy Exempt and Complying Development (SEPP). 

•     Coupled with the floor space control changes it is also proposed to strengthen local landscaping controls to improve tree canopy and vegetation to improve urban cooling, biodiversity and community health and wellbeing.

•    Changes to dual occupancy controls to align with State provisions and allow immediate subdivision.

•    Development will be encouraged to provide investment opportunities and job growth within a thriving business centre.

•    Chatswood provides the most sustainable location for increased population because of the availability of services and amenities, including transport, and the opportunities to improve and increase these services over time. 

•    Revitalisation of our local centres to provide stimulus for investment and diverse local housing opportunities.

•    We will also continue to protect our heritage and low-density areas that have been the hallmark of Willoughby for many years.

•    The plan will be on exhibition for public comment Tuesday 15 March 2022 until Tuesday 7 June 2022.

• A Development Control Plan (DCP) specifies detailed guidelines and environmental standards for new development which need to be considered in preparing a Development Application.
• Willoughby Development Control Plan has been reviewed to be consistent with and support the new draft LEP.  The intent of the review was to provide more contemporary and up to date development standards as well as providing a more succinct ‘user friendly’ document.
• The exhibition contains amendments to development controls for Chatswood CBD and the City’s local centres.  Other parts of the Willoughby Development Control Plan have previously been reviewed and updated and are included in the new draft Plan.  

•    The new draft LEP will affect what you can do on your land and what can happen on your neighbours’ land and in your local centre.  

•    If you wish to do anything on your land in the future, you should have a look at the documents on exhibition to see how they could affect your future development plans.  

•    You should also be aware if there are any changes to the planning rules proposed in your neighbourhood / local area.

•    Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012 will continue to apply until the Minister for Planning approves the final LEP and lodged DAs will proceed as normal.  

•    Once the draft plan is placed on public exhibition, it does have some status under planning legislation and would be taken into consideration in assessment.  

•    Both the existing plans and the draft LEP will need to be considered by applicants and Council when assessing Development Applications (DAs) during the interim period before the new LEP is finalised. This would also apply to Planning Proposals proposing to change zoning. 

• All submissions must be in writing.  
• Prior to making a submission, please note Council’s Privacy Policy and Disclosure of Political Donations or Gifts.  
• Submissions are strongly encouraged to be made at Willoughby Council’s Have Your Say Willoughby engagement platform at https://www.haveyoursaywilloughby.com.au/ . 
• Although this is preferred Council will still consider submissions via email or letter at: 
  1. Email to email@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au 
  2. By post to The CEO, Willoughby City Council, PO Box 57, Chatswood NSW 2057, Australia
• In writing to The CEO, Level 4, 31 Victor Street Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia

Submission can also be made to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment E Planning Portal https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/under-exhibition/comprehensive-review-willoughby-local-environmental-plan-2012-and-review-wdcp 

•    The exhibition period will end at 5pm on Tuesday 6 June 2022.

Housing is affordable if housing costs are less than 30% of gross household income. Households spending more than 30% of income on housing costs are described as being in housing stress. Housing stress impacts on quality of life and the ability to afford other living costs.