On 6 February 2026, the NSW Government published new planning changes to Canterbury-Bankstown's Council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

The changes include new controls for:

• Zoning, height and floor space ratio
• Minimum lot size and frontage
• Affordable housing
• Delivery of community infrastructure
• Underground floor space provisions

The associated maps are now available on the NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer.

These changes are significant as they reflect the implementation of Council’s alternative plan for Belmore. They will now allow landowners to submit development applications to redevelop their sites to assist in Council’s vision of making these centres places that our community love.

Why have these changes occurred?

The NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program was part of the NSW Government’s planning reforms aimed at building new homes near key train stations, including Belmore and Lakemba.

This involved setting standard rules for zoning, building heights and density within 400 metres of the stations.

While the TOD Program's intent to increase housing supply was good, Council did not believe that a blanket rezoning approach was the best way of achieving this.

What did Council do?

In 2024, Council developed an alternative scheme for Belmore and Lakemba that took employment, open space, community needs, heritage, transport and environmental constraints into close consideration.

The draft alternative scheme was exhibited from 15-28 October 2024 resulting in 292 unique submissions. Of these written submissions:

• 52% supported the alternative approach, either partially or fully
• 20% opposed the Council’s alternative approach
• 2% preferred the NSW Government’s standard TOD approach
• 29% objected to the NSW Government’s standard TOD approach

Detail on the key matters raised in submissions and the changes proposed in the plan because of community feedback are found on pp. 88-93 of the agenda for the 26 November 2024 Council meeting here.

At its meeting on 26 November 2024, Council resolved to delegate the consideration and determination of Council’s submission to the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program and Alternative Scheme for Belmore and Lakemba to the CEO. You can find more information here.

In December 2024, Canterbury-Bankstown Council submitted our alternative plan to the TOD Program to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (DPHI).

During 2025, DPHI reviewed Council’s plans, prepared amendments to Council’s Local Environmental Plan. Following their review, DPHI has updated Council’s LEP.

How does this relate to the draft Development Control Plan (DCP) changes exhibited at the end of 2025?

Council exhibited draft amendments to its DCP for Belmore and Lakemba in November 2025. These changes are still draft and will be reported to Council in February 2026. After this meeting, we will provide an update on what we heard and whether the DCP was endorsed by Council. You can read more about the draft DCP chapters for Belmore and Lakemba here.