A previously approved development on Bourke Street in Waterloo has been pushed to a much larger scale, adding 233 more apartments and towers rising to 18 storeys higher than first planned, reshaping expectations for the former industrial site.
The revised proposal for 903–921 Bourke Street was lodged through the NSW Planning Portal. Exhibition for public comment ran from April 15 to April 28, 2026.
Approved plan expanded rather than replaced
The site had already received approval years ago, under DA/2021/1415, for a mixed-use development with 347 apartments across six buildings. The new application does not replace that approval but builds on it, increasing the total number of homes to 580.
Planning documents describe the change as an “uplift” to the existing consent, with added height and internal redesign across all buildings.
Towers rise higher along Bourke and Young streets
The most visible change is the increase in building height. One tower along Bourke Street is proposed to grow by 18 storeys, while another on Young Street would gain 16 storeys. Other buildings across the site would rise by one to four additional levels.
Design revisions also include changes to building shape and spacing. Some footprints have been reduced to increase separation between structures, while architectural detailing has been updated. Ground-level retail has been introduced in parts of the site, adding to its mixed-use character.
More homes, smaller formats and shared spaces
The jump from 347 to 580 apartments includes 57 co-living studios, a format that typically offers smaller private rooms with shared living areas. The updated plans also expand communal facilities, including indoor and outdoor shared spaces and rooftop areas.
Basement layouts have been reworked to increase parking from 346 to 376 spaces. Landscape changes at ground level are described as minor but align with the revised building layout.
Planning material notes that the proposal includes an affordable housing contribution equivalent to 12 per cent of the added uplift. The documents also outline updates to subdivision plans and agreements tied to the site’s redevelopment.
The proposal now moves into the next stage of assessment, where state planners will determine whether the expanded design proceeds in its current form or is revised further.
Published 29-April-2026
