Sydney’s future skyline will feature buildings 80 metres taller than Governor Phillip Tower, with the City of Sydney developing a plan to allow heights in excess of 300 metres in special "tower cluster" areas. Any 300 metre tall commercial buildings would be subject to federal airport approval. 

The city has just released its draft Central Sydney Planning Strategy, the most comprehensive urban planning strategy for the area in 45 years. The report is three years in the making, and has identified opportunities to unlock up to 2.9 million square metres of additional floor space for retail, hotel, cultural and office needs.

A key concern is to ensure public areas such as Hyde Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Martin Place and Wynyard Park are not entirely shaded by skyscraper developments.

Central Sydney helps generate $108 billion of economic activity annually, which is nearly eight per cent of the national economy. It has the highest concentration of top 500 companies, banking institutions and mainstream artistic and cultural institutions, and is the largest retail centre in Australia. 

"Central Sydney has limited capacity to grow north, west and east because of its natural geography and harbour surrounds, heritage and the growth of residential development, which limit potential future renewal and change of use to meet the needs of a changing society," said Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

"Planning for growth requires clear policies and careful management to protect the opportunities to increase the new economy’s floor space needs from high-priced residential on larger scale sites." 

The 20-year strategy proposes to update previous planning controls and is the first comprehensive plan since the City of Sydney Strategic Plan in 1971 by George Clark.

The new Central Sydney Planning Strategy includes 10 key moves and nine aims for business and residential development. The 10 key moves include:

• The expansion of Central Sydney to reabsorb The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Ultimo (The Goods Line, Central Park and UTS) and Central Railway to Cleveland Street. Having a single consent authority and framework will make planning more consistent and reduce red tape and hurdles;

• The prioritisation of business floor space employment by expanding the city’s commercial core west to Barangaroo and south to Belmore Park;

• The management of small sites to consider wind, sunlight, public views and setbacks. The City wants to encourage owners of city buildings to talk to their neighbours about their combined development potential – done well, sites that are amalgamated can reach better development outcomes while preserving heritage character;

• Progressing plans for three new squares along George Street – at Circular Quay, Town Hall and Railway Square – to provide precincts that improve the liveability of the city centre;

• The strengthening of public open space, accessibility and connections to make moving around the city easier and more enjoyable for workers, residents and visitors;

• The promotion of design excellence by requiring all towers and major developments to go through a design competition process;

• Ensuring transport and social infrastructure keeps pace with growth, and that Sydney is inclusive of all members of society by the introduction of an affordable housing levy; and

• A move toward zero net energy for all buildings through sustainability incentives for floor space ratio bonuses and minimum NABERs standards for new office buildings.

The City’s Director of Planning, Development and Transport, Graham Jahn AM, said the City had received positive responses to the strategy from the NSW Premier, Minister for Planning, Department of Planning and Sydney Business Chamber. 

The strategy is expected to be placed on public exhibition in late September. 

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