Town planning · Blacktown City NSW
Town planning in Blacktown City. Establish the correct pathway.
Site-specific town planning advice across Blacktown City, including Low and Mid-Rise Housing (LMR), North West Growth Area precincts, Preliminary Planning Reports, Development Applications and CD Planning Assessments for applications to Building Certifiers.
NSW housing opportunities
Low and Mid-Rise Housing in Blacktown City
The NSW Low and Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) Policy, in Chapter 6 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, creates opportunities for certain types of housing in eligible locations near nominated centres and stations. Depending on the applicable provisions and the site, these may include dual occupancies, terraces, multi-dwelling housing and residential flat buildings.
LMR eligibility is generally based on 800 metres walking distance from the relevant nominated station or centre boundary—not a simple straight-line radius. Zoning, the actual walking network, exclusions, mapped constraints and other statutory requirements need to be considered before assuming development potential.
NSW Government interactive map
Explore the indicative LMR Housing catchments on the NSW Spatial Portal. The map assists with preliminary screening but does not establish legal eligibility for an individual property.
View the indicative LMR Housing mapNominated LMR locations
Four centres within Blacktown, plus a boundary catchment
The NSW Government lists four nominated centres and stations within Blacktown City. Council also identifies Kellyville Metro station because its catchment can extend into the Blacktown LGA, notwithstanding the station's location within The Hills Shire.
Blacktown City Council's LMR guidance distinguishes inner and outer LMR areas, includes the relevant station entrances and town centre boundaries, and provides guidance on landscaping, tree canopy and parking. The particulars of a proposal need to be assessed against the in-force Housing SEPP rather than inferred solely from a colour on a map.
See Blacktown City Council's LMR planning guidance and the NSW Government's site-selection list.
Important planning distinction
Blacktown LEP 2015 and DCP 2015 do not apply everywhere
Blacktown Local Environmental Plan 2015 (BLEP) establishes zoning, permissible development, land-use standards and mapped provisions for land to which that instrument applies. Blacktown Development Control Plan 2015 (BDCP) provides further design and assessment guidance for the same land.
Other areas of Blacktown City, including many North West Growth Area precincts, are subject to separate State precinct planning provisions and their associated development control plans. Applying the BLEP or BDCP automatically to every property in Blacktown could lead to an incorrect assessment.
For land in released growth precincts, the State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Central River City) 2021, other relevant precinct provisions and the Blacktown Growth Centre Precincts DCP may be the applicable instruments. Check the exact site, current maps and development type before selecting the controls to assess.
Current operative update
Blacktown DCP amendments effective February 2026
Blacktown City Council confirms that its updated Blacktown Development Control Plan 2015 took effect on 1 February 2026, incorporating amendments adopted in November 2025. Council also notes transitional treatment for certain Development Applications lodged before that commencement date.
The DCP includes residential provisions, stormwater and water-sensitive urban design requirements, and provisions applying to selected established areas. Its parts must be selected according to the location and development proposed; the separate growth-area DCP arrangements should not be confused with the BDCP.
Source: Blacktown City Council — current DCP and commencement information.
Sydney's North West Growth Area
Planning in Riverstone, Schofields and Marsden Park
The North West Growth Area contains multiple released and planned precincts within Blacktown City, including areas around Riverstone, Schofields and Marsden Park. These locations may have precinct-specific zoning, housing controls, subdivision requirements, infrastructure arrangements and contributions plans.
The relevant provisions commonly arise under the Precincts—Central River City SEPP 2021 and, where applicable, other State precinct instruments, with the Blacktown Growth Centre Precincts Development Control Plan 2010 providing further planning and design controls. The precise applicable instrument depends on which precinct and land parcel is involved.
Flooding and evacuation capacity require particular care in some proposed growth areas. Council explains that earlier flood-risk investigations raised substantial residential development concerns in parts of Marsden Park North and West Schofields. No development potential should be assumed merely because land lies within a growth-area boundary.
Read Blacktown City Council — North West Growth Area for current precinct planning context.
Local planning considerations
Infrastructure, landscaping and site constraints
Stormwater and water-sensitive urban design
Review drainage, on-site detention and relevant water-quality requirements, including whether the site's planning precinct and proposed development trigger additional water-sensitive urban design provisions.
Tree canopy and landscaping
Consider trees, deep soil, canopy objectives and open space, including the way the Housing SEPP and Council's LMR guidance interact with the proposed housing type.
Traffic, access and parking
Evaluate driveway access, vehicle crossings, parking and manoeuvring arrangements, having regard to operative Housing SEPP requirements where applicable and any additional relevant controls.
Flooding, services and subdivision
Check flood and evacuation risks, infrastructure availability, service connections, lot dimensions and any precinct-specific subdivision standards before making design commitments.
Our professional services
How Planning Approvals can assist in Blacktown City
Preliminary Planning Reports
Review a site's planning potential, zoning, applicable instruments and constraints before detailed design. Explore PPRs and planning consultancy.
LMR and growth-area planning assessments
Investigate Housing SEPP catchments, land eligibility, precinct planning controls, subdivision considerations and the appropriate approval pathway.
DA planning and SEE preparation
Provide planning advice, Statements of Environmental Effects and assistance with DA documentation, consultant reports and lodgement where engaged. Explore DA services.
CD Planning Assessments
Prepare planning assessments to accompany CDC applications to Building Certifiers, checking applicable Codes SEPP provisions, site eligibility and design compliance. Explore CD Planning Assessments.
A CD Planning Assessment supports the planning compliance documentation for a CDC application. A Building Certifier independently determines whether the applicable statutory requirements are met and whether a CDC can be issued. LMR Housing permissibility alone does not establish CDC eligibility. You can Find a Certifier using the NSW Government's public register.
In-house sustainability services
BASIX and Accredited NatHERS assessments
Planning Approvals provides an in-house BASIX service and thermal performance assessment by an Accredited NatHERS Assessor. We can assist with BASIX certification, NatHERS ratings and practical design advice on glazing, insulation and construction materials.
Our approach
First confirm the planning framework.
Local LEP and DCP provisions, State precinct policies, housing reforms and land constraints all matter to feasibility.
Identify the applicable instruments
Check land application, zoning, LMR eligibility, growth-area precinct status and relevant mapping.
Assess opportunities and constraints
Review the proposed form of development, operative standards and infrastructure or environmental issues.
Prepare agreed planning documentation
Provide a PPR, SEE, planning advice or CD Planning Assessment to support the next project stage.
Common questions
Planning questions in Blacktown City.
Does Blacktown LEP 2015 apply to every site in the City?
No. Some land, particularly within the North West Growth Area, is subject to State precinct planning instruments and a separate Growth Centre DCP. The correct land-application and zoning maps should be checked first.
Can LMR Housing apply near Kellyville Metro in Blacktown City?
Potentially. Council identifies the Kellyville Metro station entrance as a nominated reference point whose walking-distance catchment may extend across the Council boundary. Site zoning, walking route, current Housing SEPP requirements and exclusions must still be checked.
Do the February 2026 Blacktown DCP amendments affect my proposal?
The current BDCP took effect on 1 February 2026. Its applicability depends on the land and the timing and status of the application; some pre-commencement applications may be assessed under former controls. Precinct-specific DCPs may apply instead.
What if my land is in Riverstone, Schofields or Marsden Park?
Growth precincts can have distinct State planning controls and infrastructure or flood constraints. Development potential must be based on the relevant released precinct, land-use provisions and applicable site mapping.
Can we help with a Blacktown City Development Application or Statement of Environmental Effects?
Yes. Depending on the engagement, we provide planning advice, SEE preparation, coordination of consultant documentation and assistance with DA compilation and lodgement.
Can Planning Approvals issue a CDC?
No. We provide CD Planning Assessments to accompany applications to Building Certifiers. The Building Certifier independently decides whether the statutory requirements are satisfied and a certificate may be issued.
Official NSW Government and Blacktown City Council sources:
- Blacktown City — Blacktown LEP 2015
- Blacktown City — BDCP 2015 (effective February 2026) and precinct DCP links
- Blacktown City — LMR Housing assessment guidance
- Blacktown City — North West Growth Area and precinct planning
- NSW Government — nominated LMR locations
- NSW Government — current precinct SEPP framework
Blacktown City · Project enquiry
Considering a Blacktown City development?
Send us the site address and a description of the proposal. We'll discuss a suitable initial planning assessment and the scope of our consultancy services.