Cumberland Local Planning Panel - 13 May 2026

Topics

• Three development approvals and two refusals decided by Cumberland Local Planning Panel
  The panel backed two residential projects in Merrylands/Merrylands West but refused proposals in Westmead and Pendle Hill.
  These outcomes shape local housing supply, neighbourhood scale, and whether contentious proposals can proceed.
• Westmead development refused over stormwater drainage and easement concerns
  A proposal at 62 Bridge Road was refused because the panel was not satisfied stormwater arrangements met LEP requirements.
  Infrastructure and legal access issues can stall or stop development, affecting local land use and future applications.
• Merrylands West apartment expansion approved with affordable housing component
  The panel approved an amended development at 9 Sherwood Road to add apartments, include affordable housing and alter parking and ground-floor retail.
  The project increases housing density and affordable housing supply while changing the built form in Merrylands West.

Decisions

• 70 Burnett Street, Merrylands — approved
  The panel supported Clause 4.6 variations for setbacks and building separation and approved Development Application 2025/0778 for a three-storey boarding house with 20 rooms and at-grade parking as a deferred commencement consent, subject to conditions.
  Supports new boarding house housing supply in Merrylands, with conditions intended to manage neighbourhood impacts.
• 9 Sherwood Road, Merrylands West — approved
  The panel supported Clause 4.6 variations for building height, landscaping and floor-to-ceiling height, and approved Development Application 2025/0688 to expand an existing mixed-use development to 117 apartments, including affordable housing, with retail reconfiguration and parking changes.
  Adds more apartments and affordable housing in Merrylands West, with changes to building scale and parking.
• 62 Bridge Road, Westmead — refused
  The panel refused the application because it was not satisfied that adequate stormwater drainage arrangements were in place under Clause 6.4 of the Cumberland LEP 2021, noting there was no evidence the required easement could be obtained.
  Blocks a development in Westmead until stormwater and drainage requirements can be properly resolved.
• 3–5 Gilba Road, Pendle Hill — refused
  The panel refused Development Application 2025/0824 for a five-storey mixed-use development with a commercial unit, childcare centre and 74 co-living units, relying on reasons in Council’s assessment report and identified non-compliances.
  Stops a proposed mixed-use and childcare development in Pendle Hill at this stage.

Discussion

• Clause 4.6 variations for housing developments
  The panel supported multiple variations to planning standards for setbacks, building separation, height, landscaping and ceiling height on the two approved Merrylands and Merrylands West applications.
  Shows the panel is willing to vary standards where it considers the planning grounds adequate.
• Affordable and co-living housing proposals
  The meeting considered housing proposals including a boarding house in Merrylands and an apartment expansion in Merrylands West with affordable housing components; the Pendle Hill proposal included co-living units and childcare.
  These decisions affect the mix of housing types and density in local centres.
• Stormwater and easement compliance in Westmead
  The Westmead refusal turned on stormwater drainage compliance and the lack of evidence that the needed easement could be obtained.
  Highlights infrastructure and legal-access issues that can prevent developments from proceeding.

Impacts

• More medium-density housing may proceed in Merrylands and Merrylands West if conditions are met.
• The Westmead proposal cannot proceed without resolving stormwater drainage and easement matters.
• The Pendle Hill mixed-use, childcare and co-living proposal has been refused, so no development can commence from this approval round.

Places

• Merrylands (suburb)
  Site of the approved boarding house at 70 Burnett Street.
• Merrylands West (suburb)
  Site of the approved apartment/amendment application at 9 Sherwood Road.
• Westmead (suburb)
  Site of the refused development application at 62 Bridge Road.
• Pendle Hill (suburb)
  Site of the refused mixed-use development at 3–5 Gilba Road.
• 70 Burnett Street (road/site)
  Approved boarding house development site.
• 9 Sherwood Road (road/site)
  Approved mixed-use/amending development site.
• 62 Bridge Road (road/site)
  Refused Westmead development site.
• 3–5 Gilba Road (road/site)
  Refused Pendle Hill development site.

Next

• Notify submitters of the determinations for the approved and refused applications.
  After the meeting
• Progress deferred commencement and consent conditions for 70 Burnett Street if the applicant satisfies required pre-commencement matters.
  Before any works commence
• Resolve stormwater drainage and easement requirements if any revised Westmead proposal is to proceed.
  Before any resubmission or new consent process

Extract

Cumberland Local Planning Panel Meeting 13 May 2026 Minutes of the Cumberland Local Planning Panel Meeting held via Zoom on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. PRESENT: Michael File Chairperson Wayne Carter Expert Member Dennis Loether Expert Member Virginia Sinclair Community Member IN ATTENDANCE: Michael Lawani Acting Executive Manager City Planning and Development Bhavisha Sheth Coordinator Fast Track Development Assessment Esra Calim Coordinator Planning Operations Harley Pearman Acting Coordinator Major Development Assessment Emma Di Rita Acting Executive Planner Bala Sudarson Executive Development Engineer Elizabeth Chan Senior Development Planner Ana Ghafari Development Planner Darci Boyd Senior...