104–108 Victoria Road, Rozelle
Traders in Purple Australia Pty Ltd is proposing a 16-storey mixed-use tower at 104–108 Victoria Road, Rozelle, on the corner of Victoria Road, Withecombe Street and Ellen Street, on the site of the existing two-storey Skylife commercial building.
The scheme comprises 117 apartments with a component of affordable housing, multi-level basement parking and commercial space, on a site of just 1,921 sqm. It is being assessed by the NSW Government as a State Significant Development (SSD), meaning Inner West Council is bypassed as the consent authority. With fast-tracked Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) planning powers, this project could move quickly through the system, making community input during the exhibition period more important than ever.
Our concerns
- Setting a precedent. If approved at this scale, this tower becomes the benchmark for the Victoria Road corridor. It could set a precedent for every commercial site along it, compounding overshadowing, traffic congestion and over-development across the Rozelle and Balmain Peninsula.
- A linked rezoning proposal. Alongside the developer’s SSD application, a separate rezoning proposal seeks to lift the site’s maximum Floor Space Ratio (FSR) from 1.5:1 to 8.6:1, more than five times the current limit, and raise the permissible building height to 77 metres. If approved, this would establish a benchmark reaching beyond this one site, outside Inner West Council’s normal planning controls.
Current controls (Inner West Council) Proposed rezoning changes through SSDA Floor Space Ratio: 1.5:1 Floor Space Ratio: 8.6:1 Zoning: Local Area E. Shop-top housing is permissible within this zone Zoning: No change Height: There is no applicable building height however the height is governed by the floor space ratio of 1.5:1 The rezoning proposal seeks to amend the maximum building height to 77m (including lift overrun) - Compromised community amenity: Overshadowing of O’Connor Reserve is part of the developer’s proposal.
- Out of step with the one- and two-storey scale of the surrounding peninsula.
- Affordable housing of limited duration. The scheme is only required to provide a number of affordable units for 15 years, in exchange for additional height and scale. This does not represent a genuine, long-term affordable housing contribution.
The community will have just 14 days to object
The State Significant Development application is expected to be lodged in September or October 2026.
Once lodged, the community will have just 14 days to submit an objection, so being prepared to act quickly is essential. We need as much of the community behind this as possible, submitting objections once the window opens.
Join the community WhatsApp group
Stay informed as the application progresses. Scan the QR code to join. Or follow this link.
Register for notifications on the NSW Planning Portal
Track the application (SSD-101723458) so you are alerted the moment it is lodged and open for exhibition. When on the page, click the “Notify Me” icon. Open the Planning Portal page
Submit an objection when the window opens
And encourage others in the community to do the same. We will post details here about how to lodge a submission as soon as exhibition begins.
Write to your local representatives
Write individually to your local representatives regarding your concerns, and request that they address the issues publicly.
Where the project is up to
- 4 April 2025 Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) did not recommend the 68 apartment scheme be declared as a State Significant Development and advised alternative planning pathway such as local council development application.
- 15 July 2025 Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) recommended a revised schedule of 130 apartments to be declared as a State Significant Development.
- 23 July 2025 Ministerial State Significant Development Declaration
- 18 December 2025 Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) issued by the Department of Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) lists specific issues and environmental impacts that must be addressed by the applicant in an Environmental Impact Statement as part of their formal lodgement of the proposed development for assessment by the DPHI.
- August 2026 Community consultation
- September – October 2026 State Significant Application lodgement Estimated
- October 2026 Public exhibition period Estimated
- 2027 Determination Estimated
rozellecommunity.org is run by a group of local residents responding to the pace and scale of development in Rozelle. It serves as a central source of information on major developments and proposals affecting the suburb.
We are independent and volunteer run, and have no affiliation with government, developers or commercial interests of any kind.
Rozelle is a diverse, welcoming suburb of young families, long term residents, professionals and workers. Our aim is to see it grow sustainably, within the limits of the infrastructure and space that this already dense Inner West suburb can support.
- Request for SEARs letter from Colliers on behalf of Traders in Purple
- Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) cover letter
- Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs)
- Guidance for Concurrent Rezoning Report – SSD Housing
- HDA Record of Briefing, 4 April 2025 68-dwelling scheme not recommended for the HDA planning pathway (page 20)
- HDA Record of Briefing, 15 July 2025 130-dwelling scheme recommended for SSD (page 30)
- Ministerial Order for State Significant Development Page 6
- Webinar hosted by Colliers for early community consultation YouTube
- NSW Planning Portal page for this development Including signing up for notifications
- How the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) works, and its criteria
- Inner West Council Local Environmental Plan 2022
- Guide to Faster Assessments for SSD Housing Applications
- Traders In Purple Australia Pty Ltd
- Developer for proposal at 104–108 Victoria Road.
- Colliers
- Applicant’s planning consultant, running the SSDA process including preparing the Environmental Impact Statement and pre-lodgement engagement.
- Studio.SC
- Project architects.
- Housing Delivery Authority (HDA)
- Recommends State Significant Development declaration based on prescribed metrics (doesn’t approve/refuse the actual project).
- Minister for Planning and Public Spaces (Paul Scully MP)
- Signs the Ministerial Declaration making the project State Significant.
- Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI)
- Issues SEARs, assesses the State Significant Development Application, runs the public exhibition process.
- Planning Secretary (DPHI)
- Makes the final State Significant Development Application determination and any objections should be addressed to this role. Details for lodging objections TBA.
- Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
- Referral agency for traffic and transport impacts.
- Inner West Council
- Not the consent authority; can still make a submission.
- Rozelle residents and property owners
- Affected community; can submit objections once the public exhibition period commences.
- SSD (State Significant Development)
- A category of development the NSW Government determines directly, rather than via the Inner West local council.
- HDA (Housing Delivery Authority)
- A NSW Government body that fast-tracks eligible housing projects through the planning system.
- SEARs
- The Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements, the list of studies and information the developer must address in its Environmental Impact Statement.
- EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)
- The developer’s full assessment report, lodged for public exhibition.
- FSR (Floor Space Ratio)
- The amount of floor area permitted relative to the site area, a key measure of built form and density.
Join the WhatsApp group
Vic Rd Community Chat. Scan the code to join on your phone and stay informed. Or follow this link.
Email [email protected]