Town planning · Penrith City NSW
Town planning in Penrith City. Identify the right planning controls.
Professional town planning advice for Penrith City, from Low and Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) eligibility and site feasibility to Preliminary Planning Reports, Development Applications, Statements of Environmental Effects and CD Planning Assessments for Building Certifiers.
Current NSW Housing SEPP
Low and Mid-Rise Housing in Penrith City
The NSW Low and Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) Policy, under Chapter 6 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, enables additional housing opportunities on qualifying land in specified areas near nominated centres and stations. Depending on land zoning, exclusions, development type and the operative standards, those housing forms may include dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses and some residential flat buildings.
Eligibility is generally assessed within 800 metres walking distance of a nominated town centre or station. This is not the same as an 800-metre straight-line radius, and each property's zoning, access and planning constraints require confirmation.
NSW Government interactive map
Use the indicative LMR Housing map to screen a location. The interactive map does not replace a property-specific statutory assessment of the Housing SEPP provisions, exclusions and relevant walking distance.
Explore the NSW LMR Housing mapPenrith's nominated LMR location
Penrith Station and Town Centre
The NSW Government's published LMR site-selection list nominates Penrith Station and Town Centre as the location for Penrith City. Unlike some neighbouring local government areas, Penrith does not have several separately nominated rail centres under this LMR listing.
St Marys, Kingswood and Werrington have their own transport, precinct and development considerations, but their mention in local planning strategies should not be confused with LMR centre nomination. A site near a railway station is not automatically within an LMR Housing area.
Confirm the official nomination through NSW Planning — nominated LMR areas.
Local planning framework
Penrith LEP 2010 and Penrith DCP 2014
The Penrith Local Environmental Plan 2010 applies to most of the City and sets out land-use permissibility, zoning, development standards, heritage and relevant planning maps. It does not apply to every parcel: some land is governed by other LEPs, interim instruments or State Environmental Planning Policies.
The Penrith Development Control Plan 2014 supplements the LEP for land to which it applies, with city-wide requirements and specific chapters for residential, commercial, rural and precinct development. Check the current DCP and land application mapping before relying on any particular clause.
Council's DCP Amendment 18 commenced on 1 October 2026, reorganising chapter titles and numbering and making administrative and selected other amendments. The current DCP website notes a correction to its amendment-history table; Council states that this does not affect the operative St Marys chapter. References to older DCP chapter numbers should therefore be checked against the current version. View the current Council DCP.
A distinct town-centre framework
St Marys Town Centre: planning controls have changed
St Marys is being planned for major redevelopment alongside the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport connection. The NSW Government's St Marys Town Centre planning amendment commenced on 6 February 2026, with local development-control provisions subsequently updated for the centre.
These precinct-specific changes should be assessed by reference to the relevant LEP mapping, current DCP chapter and development type. They are not an extension of the LMR Housing nomination to St Marys. Proposals may also require careful consideration of height, floor space, transport access, urban design, public-domain requirements and development contributions.
See Penrith City Council — St Marys Town Centre, current Penrith DCP chapters and the NSW Planning Portal LEP mapping history.
Western Sydney growth precincts
Aerotropolis, Mamre Road and other State planning controls
Parts of Penrith City near Luddenham, the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and the Mamre Road industrial precinct are subject to planning frameworks which differ from the general Penrith LEP/DCP controls. The State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Western Parkland City) 2021 and associated plans may determine zoning, infrastructure, land acquisition, environmental protection and aviation-related requirements for land within their application areas.
There are also separate instruments or DCPs relevant to parts of the Mamre Road precinct, Western Sydney Aerotropolis, Penrith Lakes and other defined precincts. Some State-prepared DCPs explicitly replace Penrith DCP 2014 for their application areas.
Planning feasibility in these locations therefore starts with identifying the correct land application map and operative instrument, rather than assuming ordinary residential controls govern all land within the LGA.
Infrastructure and servicing constraints, biodiversity, flood matters, land acquisition, aviation safeguarding or precinct release arrangements can materially affect the available development pathway. Refer to the NSW Aerotropolis planning framework and Council's State planning documents.
Property-specific matters
Flooding, bushfire, landscape and infrastructure
Flood and river constraints
Sites near the Nepean River and other flood-affected areas may require additional assessment of flood planning levels, evacuation considerations and related land constraints.
Bushfire, vegetation and biodiversity
Check bushfire-prone land mapping, native vegetation, trees and ecological constraints, particularly where development interfaces with rural land or conservation areas.
Stormwater, services and subdivision
Review stormwater disposal, infrastructure availability, lot layout, access and whether engineering or utility capacity affects feasibility.
Scenic setting, heritage and local character
Consider heritage, landscape values, rural character and built-form expectations under the relevant LEP, DCP or precinct controls.
Our professional services
How Planning Approvals can assist in Penrith City
Preliminary Planning Reports
Investigate development feasibility, zoning, relevant planning controls and material site constraints before preparing detailed plans. Explore our PPRs and planning advice.
LMR and precinct planning reviews
Review the Penrith LMR area and any relevant St Marys, Aerotropolis or other precinct provisions to establish the appropriate assessment pathway.
DA planning and SEE preparation
Provide planning advice, Statements of Environmental Effects, review of consultant documentation and assistance with DA compilation and lodgement where engaged. Explore DA and SEE services.
CD Planning Assessments
Prepare planning compliance assessments to accompany CDC applications submitted to Building Certifiers, including consideration of Codes SEPP land eligibility and design provisions. Explore CD Planning Assessments.
Planning Approvals prepares CD Planning Assessments and compliance advice to support CDC applications. A Building Certifier assesses the statutory certification requirements and determines whether a CDC can be issued. LMR Housing permissibility does not automatically establish eligibility for complying development. You can Find a Certifier through the NSW Government register.
In-house sustainability services
BASIX and Accredited NatHERS assessments
Planning Approvals provides an in-house BASIX service and residential thermal assessments by an Accredited NatHERS Assessor. Our services include BASIX certification, NatHERS ratings and practical design advice on glazing, insulation and construction materials.
How we approach your project
Begin with the correct framework.
Establish which LEP, DCP or State precinct controls apply before assessing development potential.
Confirm site and applicable controls
Review zoning, LMR location, DCP coverage, other precinct provisions and site constraints.
Evaluate planning feasibility
Consider the development type, standards, potential constraints and preferred pathway.
Prepare agreed assessment work
Deliver a PPR, SEE, planning advice or CD Planning Assessment suited to the project's next stage.
Common questions
Planning questions in Penrith City.
Is St Marys included in Penrith's LMR Housing catchment?
The NSW Government's published LMR site-selection list nominates Penrith Station and Town Centre for the Penrith LGA, not St Marys. St Marys has separate town-centre planning controls, including operative 2026 changes. Site-specific assessment remains necessary.
Does Penrith LEP 2010 apply to every property in the City?
No. Council identifies land subject to other planning instruments, including State precinct policies. A property-specific check of operative land-application and zoning maps is required.
Does Penrith DCP 2014 still apply after the 2026 amendments?
Yes. It remains Council's DCP for relevant land, but Amendment 18 took effect on 1 October 2026 and reorganised the chapter numbering and other provisions. Some growth-area land is subject to a separate State DCP instead.
Can we assist with a Penrith Development Application or Statement of Environmental Effects?
Yes. We provide planning advice, SEE preparation, assistance with consultant documentation and DA compilation or lodgement according to the engagement.
Can Planning Approvals issue a Complying Development Certificate?
No. We prepare CD Planning Assessments to support CDC applications to Building Certifiers. The Building Certifier independently determines whether the statutory requirements are met and a certificate may be issued.
Official Penrith City Council and NSW Government planning resources:
- Penrith City Council — LEP 2010 and instrument coverage
- Penrith City Council — current DCP 2014 chapters and October 2026 update
- Council — State precinct and specialist DCPs
- NSW Planning — nominated LMR Housing locations
- NSW Planning — Aerotropolis statutory framework
- Council — St Marys Town Centre planning
- Council — public notices and amendment commencement dates
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