Central Precinct Renewal Program

Central Precinct is Transport’s vision to renew up to 24 hectares of land in and around Sydney’s Central Station into an exciting new place for business and the community.

We’re planning for the future now to meet the needs of our changing city. Renewing Central Precinct will revitalise Central Station and transform this underutilised part of Sydney from a place you simply move through to one where you want to visit, work, relax, connect and socialise.

Key benefits

A renewed Central Precinct will support the needs of a diverse community. This includes:

Principles for Connecting with Country embedded from the start of the renewal
Celebrating Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage and culture
Reviving Central Station as a global transport interchange, meeting the needs of local, regional and international travellers, including revitalising the Sydney Terminal Building
Three new parks, Central Green, Central Square and Mortuary Station Garden, for locals and visitors to enjoy
Improving connectivity in this part of the city with new pedestrian connections in and around the precinct and to surrounding neighbourhoods
High quality office space for small businesses, creative and research industries, start-ups through to established Tech companies, as part of Tech Central
New community, cultural and recreation spaces
Creating new dining and retail destinations
A community and social services hub to support rough sleepers or people in disadvantaged situations
Housing, including a commitment of 30 per cent affordable housing and 20,000 square metres of student housing.
Contributing to the NSW Government’s 2030 goal to reduce emissions by 50 per cent and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Central Precinct’s vision

Central Precinct’s vision is to be a vibrant and exciting place that unites a world-class interchange with innovative and diverse businesses and high-quality public spaces. It will embrace design, sustainability and connectivity, celebrate its unique built form and social and cultural heritage and become a centre for the jobs of the future and economic growth.

A Precinct ready to grow

Central Precinct sits at the southern end of Sydney’s CBD. Its revitalisation is key to maintaining the CBD’s position locally, nationally and globally as a destination for business, investment and talent.

The precinct renewal is a long term, urban renewal program and is a nominated State Significant Precinct (SSP) in recognition of its potential to boost investment and deliver new jobs.

With the Central Precinct Strategic Framework in place to guide the renewal, we’ve been working with stakeholders and the community on the plans for Central.

What’s happening now

Before Central Precinct can become a better place for the community and businesses, we need to update the planning controls.

We developed a SSP Study and indicative masterplan which will guide the design of Central Precinct into the future.

The SSP Study was on public exhibition and community feedback was invited from 22 August to 4 October 2022.

We would like to thank the community for their feedback, which will help shape the future of this significant site that connects the people of NSW together.

All feedback for the SSP Study and indicative masterplan was considered and responded to in a Response to Submissions Report.

To view the SSP technical studies and Response to Submissions Report visit the Department of Planning and Environment Planning Portal.

Next Steps

The Department of Planning and Environment is now assessing the proposal and will make a recommendation to the Minister for Planning for determination.

About the SSP planning process

The SSP planning process (PDF, 52.29 KB)for Central Precinct identifies a new statutory planning framework for Central Precinct. This involves two key stages:

Stage 1: Development of a draft Strategic Vision which has since evolved into the Central Precinct Strategic Framework

Stage 2: Preparation of an SSP study with associated technical analysis and community and stakeholder consultation.

We are now in Stage 2 of the planning process.

Explore the 2023 updated plans for Central Precinct

Want to know more about the updated precinct renewal plans? Explore our digital interactive newsletter where you can find out more about how the masterplan has changed following feedback from stakeholders and community.

View the full screen digital newsletter.

Explore the 2022 plans for Central Precinct

Explore our 2022 digital interactive newsletter where you can find more information on the rich history of the Central area, an overview of new public spaces and what the precinct renewal will deliver for the community.

View the full screen digital newsletter.

Central Precinct Renewal initiatives

As the precinct progresses through the SSP rezoning, Transport has several initiatives already underway to provide the community with new and exciting spaces sooner.

See below to lean more:

Creating new Sydney destinations

Transport for NSW is shaping NSW cities, centres and communities for generations to come by revitalising major transport interchanges. We’re thinking beyond the infrastructure and service requirements and focusing on what transport enables. Transport and the NSW Transport Asset Holding Entity, the site owners, are in a unique position to transform this infrastructure into new Sydney destinations.

Central Precinct Renewal is one of three urban renewal projects shaping the future of Sydney. Together with Redfern North Eveleigh Precinct Renewal and Circular Quay Renewal, we will give communities 34 hectares of a revitalised Sydney. We’re working with the people of NSW to ensure these new Sydney destinations reflect the uniqueness of each iconic location and community.