I object to the current proposal and have attached a detailed submission.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed 11-storey redevelopment at 40-76 William Street, Leichhardt. While I understand the broader need for housing density, this current proposal is deeply flawed, prioritising developer yield over sustainable community planning. My objection is based on the following critical concerns:

Lack of Affordable Housing
This proposal includes a token provision of just 5% affordable housing, and restricts this to a limited period of only 15 years. This does absolutely nothing to improve long-term affordability in the area. If the community is to accept major redevelopments, they must deliver meaningful, permanent affordable housing, not short-term concessions that eventually revert to market rates.

Inappropriate Height and Scale
A development of up to 11 storeys is completely inappropriate for this location. It is highly concerning that in December 2023, the Land and Environment Court rejected a much smaller, five-storey development on this exact site. The Court rightfully cited concerns regarding inappropriate height and scale, finding it would result in “unacceptable overshadowing of the adjoining properties to the west and south in North Street.” Proposing a building more than twice that height demonstrates a complete disregard for the Court’s recent findings and the amenity of neighbouring properties.

Lack of Public Transport
Leichhardt's existing public transport network is not equipped to service a rapidly growing population, with local buses and the light rail already operating at capacity. The developer themselves has acknowledged that these resident concerns are valid. The government must not approve a development of this scale without first delivering the critical public transport infrastructure required to support hundreds of new residents.

Pressure on Existing Infrastructure
With the significant zoning uplift underway in Leichhardt, the cumulative impact of these developments must be comprehensively evaluated. Current and future residents require adequate access to green space, sporting infrastructure, schools, and hospitals. Approving major new developments without upfront investment in this essential social infrastructure is unacceptable and will degrade the quality of life in our community.

I strongly urge you to reject this development application and ensure that any future proposals for this site respect the established scale of our neighbourhood and provide the infrastructure and genuine affordable housing we actually need.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Sergio

I support the project, I believe it will significantly improve housing affordability and availability in the area.

I would however like to see the number of units and storeys significantly increased.

Subject: Objection to the proposed redevelopment of 40–76 William Street, Leichhardt

I am writing as a local Leichhardt resident to strongly object to the proposed redevelopment of 40–76 William Street.
I support well-planned housing density where it is appropriate, sympathetically designed and supported by adequate infrastructure. However, I believe this proposal is completely out of scale with its surroundings and would permanently change the character of this part of Leichhardt.

The immediate neighbourhood is predominantly made up of freestanding homes, terraces and low-rise residential buildings. An 11-storey development is entirely out of keeping with the established streetscape and would become a visually dominant feature in an area that is valued for its leafy streets and human-scale development.

I am also concerned that the Land and Environment Court refused a significantly smaller proposal for this site in December 2023 because of its inappropriate height, bulk and the unacceptable overshadowing of neighbouring properties. It is difficult to understand how a proposal that is now up to six storeys higher can adequately address those concerns. The Court's previous findings should be given considerable weight in assessing this application.

Leichhardt's public transport and community infrastructure are already under pressure. Buses and the light rail are often crowded, and additional development should only occur alongside meaningful investment in transport, parks, schools and other essential infrastructure. These cumulative impacts need to be properly considered before developments of this scale are approved.

I am not opposed to additional housing on this site. I would welcome a well-designed, medium-density development that respects the surrounding neighbourhood and responds to the issues identified by the Land and Environment Court. However, I believe a development of up to 11 storeys is excessive, inappropriate for this location and would have a lasting negative impact on the character and amenity of Leichhardt.

I respectfully request that this proposal, in its current form, be refused.

Kind regards,
A Leichhardt resident

I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed HDA residential development at 40-76 William Street, Leichhardt (SSD-119545240). This proposal represents a sustainable and appropriate response to Sydney’s ongoing housing supply crisis on the following merits:
1. Transit-Oriented Density: The subject site is situated in close proximity to major transport options and key arterial corridors, including the Parramatta Road corridor and City West Link. Placing high-density residential accommodation in close proximity to existing transport networks aligns with local and state strategic objectives to encourage active transit, reduce private vehicle use, and create urban consolidation.
2. Adaptive Reuse & Contextual Integration: The design strikes an excellent balance between urban renewal and context-sensitive design by adaptively reusing and retaining key industrial elements of the site (including parts of the former Cyclops Toy Factory), while delivering modern residential accommodation. Reusing existing structures reduces embodied carbon while maintaining local architectural character.
3. Provision of Infill Housing & Affordable Supply: The proposal delivers 203 much-needed housing units into the Inner West LGA, including designated affordable housing. Boosting overall housing supply in well-serviced inner-ring suburbs is essential for improving market accessibility, enabling younger residents and essential workers to live near job hubs and infrastructure.
4. Efficient Land Use & Environmental Benefits: Replacing underutilised former industrial land with a high-quality residential community maximises urban efficiency without expanding Sydney’s urban fringe. The proposed landscape works, communal open spaces, and inclusion of car-share arrangements further support climate resilience and sustainable urban living.

For these reasons, the proposal represents an exceptionally positive use of land that is in the public interest. I strongly encourage the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to support and approve this application.

The height of the proposed building is unacceptable in suggested location. Use the land for affordable housing just make the dwelling appropriate for its surroundings.

Submission: Objection to Proposed Development at 40–76 William Street, Leichhardt
I am a local resident writing to formally object to the proposed 11-storey development at 40–76 William Street, Leichhardt.
While I acknowledge current rezoning initiatives and the need for housing, this proposal pushes density far past an acceptable or sustainable rate for this site.

Rezoning plans should not mean reckless overdevelopment. An 11-storey tower is completely out of scale for this site, setting a dangerous precedent for the neighbourhood.

Leichhardt’s identity relies on its history, village feel, and low-to-mid-rise scale. Thoughtful warehouse conversions and adaptive reuse respect our existing heritage far better than a modern high-rise that won't match the quality or character of the area. We cannot afford to lose that charm.

Local streets are already choked and on-street parking is at capacity. Adding roughly 200 apartments will cause severe traffic congestion, parking overflow, and place unfair pressure on our already stretched local roads, schools, and services.

A tower of this size will loom over neighbouring homes, causing severe overshadowing, loss of privacy, and visual bulk.

Growth should enhance a suburb, not erase its identity. I urge the Department to reject this proposal in its current form and scale it down to a design that respects Leichhardt’s heritage, existing infrastructure, and community character.

I believe that the size of the development is too tall with too many units without additional local services being planned for or already started being developed for the suburb. I think that over development without public infrastructure seems to only serve property developers.

Block G - The Allen estate which is the TWO LEVEL apartment complex directly behind the proposed Block D of the William street development will be severely impacted. Through out all the literature ,there is no perspective, research or discussion of the shadowing or ANY impact which will cause multiple buildings here significant issues not to mention the visual aspect of staring at what seems to be a 6-8 story development as a apposed to a 2 & 3 level development currently at the Allen Estate.
Why is there no submission by the applicant showing the impact of the substantially and oversized building (Block D) whilst other aspects of the William street development show this. Why isn't the shadowing modelled?
Even the large photo of the total proposed completed job shows the enormity of all the buildings and Block G&F in the Allen Estate being dwarfed.
In December 2023, residents took a smaller, 5-storey version of this development to the NSW Land and Environment Court and it was refused, based on concerns about the inappropriate bulk and height, and significant overshadowing for neighboring properties which is still the case yet any the buildings are now bigger?
This proposal only includes provision of 5% so-called affordable housing for a limited period of 15 years, doing nothing to improve affordability.
Allowing only 14 days to lodge a submission is extremely poor towards something which is going to have dire impact in many areas to existing residents and infrastructure in Leichhardt. Not having the detailed impact of shadowing and noise for the existing residential buildings is truly disappointing.
Based on the above points I object to this project.

This is a great site for high density housing for many reasons
- excellent public transit connectivity with 5 mins walk to light rail, 3 mins walk to bus stop with 3 routes including the high frequency 440 route
- abundant green space in the surrounding area already
- short walk to daily needs e.g. grocery stores, pharmacy, restaurants and cafes
- short walk to schools
- away from noisy and polluted main roads or heavy industry
- the site is currently underutilised as storage. This doesn't provide very many jobs compared to other kinds of industry and means no existing homes need to be displaced during construction

It's well known that Sydney is experiencing a housing affordability crisis. If we can't allow new housing in areas with good amenities like this as our population booms, we don't stand a chance of solving the crisis