At Homes NSW, our vision is to deliver quality homes and services that change lives and end homelessness.

Following early engagement with residents, stakeholders and the community, Homes NSW submitted a rezoning proposal for part of the Bellambi estate so that the area can be renewed in the future.

The proposal is being assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure as a State-Assessed Rezoning Proposal.

The Bellambi rezoning proposal sets the planning framework to guide the renewal of the Bellambi estate over the next 15 to 20 years.

Highlights of the rezoning proposal include:

• up to 2,500 new social, affordable and private homes, with at least 30% dedicated to social housing
• a new local centre with shops and services
• a new public plaza with direct access to Bellambi Beach
• improved local streets, including a new perimeter road along the foreshore
• upgraded and better-connected community and public open spaces
• improved walking and cycling pathways, including a north–south shared path through the Bellambi estate
• increased tree planting and landscaping, targeting a minimum 30% canopy cover.

The rezoning proposal seeks to change some of the current planning controls under the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 that apply to the Bellambi rezoning area.

This includes changes to:

Land use zones

• changing the zoning from R2 Low Density Residential to R3 Medium Density Residential to allow more and better homes and a mix of housing types
• introducing E1 local Centre zone to support a new local centre with shops and services.

Building heights

• increasing building heights from 9 metres (2 storeys) to between 13 metres and 22 metres (3 to 6 storeys) to allow more and better homes and a mix of housing types.

Floor space ratios

• increasing FSR from 0.5:1 to between 0.8:1 and 1.8:1 to provide more flexibility for well-designed buildings, and different housing sizes and layouts.

Minimum lot sizes

• reducing the minimum lot size from 449m² to 200m² to deliver more diverse and affordable housing types (like terraces and townhouses on smaller lots).

Proposed changes to the planning controls are currently being assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following public exhibition of the Bellambi rezoning proposal during February and March 2026.

The Bellambi rezoning proposal was on public exhibition from Friday 13 February until 5pm Friday 13 March 2026.

Homes NSW is the applicant for the rezoning proposal, and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure publicly exhibited the proposal, gathered community feedback and will be assessing the final plans.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is currently reviewing submissions received and will consider any necessary changes to the rezoning proposal.

The final Bellambi rezoning proposal will be sent to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for determination.

If approved, new planning controls will come into place, and Homes NSW will prepare more detailed design and development applications for future stages of development, with more opportunities for community consultation.

Housing affordability and availability is the largest single challenge facing the people of NSW. Renewal of the Bellambi estate will help address housing demand in Wollongong by delivering more social, affordable and private homes where they are needed most.

Many of the social homes in Bellambi are now ageing and no longer fit-for-purpose.

Renewal provides an opportunity to replace these older homes with modern, safe and well-designed housing that better meets the needs of residents now and into the future, while also supporting improvements to local infrastructure, services and facilities that benefit the wider community over time.

The Bellambi People and Place Plan puts people at the centre of planning by outlining the community’s vision, directions, and recommendations for future renewal of the Bellambi estate. The Plan has been shaped by the voices, lived experiences and recommendations shared by residents, stakeholders and community during early engagement and public exhibition of the draft Bellambi People and Place Plan.

To deliver the Plan, we’ll need to work closely with tenants, local residents, organisations, government and the wider community so that we can achieve the community’s vision for the Bellambi renewal together.

View the Bellambi People and Place Plan here.