New developments within inner city Sydney could deliver more than 2,000 new childcare places.
Since January 2014, the City of Sydney has approved 12 development applications that include a potential 718 new childcare places, while 18 development applications including 1,287 places are currently being assessed.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City’s planning unit actively worked with developers to encourage and negotiate new childcare spaces to help meet demand.
“We know that more families are moving to the inner city and quality childcare is essential for working parents.
“That is why we have worked so hard on these 2,000 new childcare places.
“As well as helping deliver childcare in private developments, the City is also investing to fast track the development of six of our own new childcare centres.
“Construction has begun on our new 60-place centre in Darlinghurst and design work has started on our new centre in Green Square with 74 spaces.
“Three of our new centres will provide at least 240 new childcare spaces for babies and children from 2016 at Sydney Park in St Peters, Huntley Street in Alexandria, and The Crescent in Annandale.
“And our sale of a former City deport in Ultimo to the Department of Education will deliver another 80-place childcare centre.”
Voluntary planning agreements (VPAs) between developers and the City are helping facilitate new childcare places.
A proposed VPA between the City, Mirvac and Coombes Property Group, soon to go on public exhibition, could result in two new childcare centres being built at what would be Sydney’s tallest residential tower on George Street.
The City’s Childcare Centres Development Control Plan was introduced in 2005 to encourage the provisions of high-quality childcare and provide developers with the information they need to successfully complete development applications. It is now part of the broader Sydney Development Control Plan (2012).
The planning tool encourages developers to include childcare centres in their plans for residential and commercial buildings by allowing more flexibility in the planning and design approach.
