Bays West

Sydney, NSW - Gadigal and Wangal Country (Eora Nation)

Commissioned by UrbanGrowth NSW, this urban design capacity study evaluates development yields, land-use trade-offs, and planning scenarios for the 20-hectare Glebe Island precinct within Bays West.

e8urban was commissioned by UrbanGrowth NSW to undertake a strategic urban design capacity study for Glebe Island, a critical 20-hectare maritime precinct situated between Rozelle Bay and White Bay within Sydney’s broader Bays West urban transformation program. The primary objective of the study was to rigorously assess how retaining operational port activities on Glebe Island would impact potential development outcomes across the site in terms of yield, land-use distribution, and statutory planning frameworks.

While prior broad-scale studies indicated that a complete relocation of port operations could unlock approximately 650,000 square metres of Gross Floor Area (GFA), e8urban’s investigation focused on testing complex co-existence scenarios. The study mapped spatial buffers, interface requirements, built-form massing options, and access corridors necessary to reconcile working harbour functions with new urban uses.

e8urban developed detailed development metrics and land-use options that directly supported broader financial modelling, land valuation exercises, and feasibility studies conducted by project partners. By balancing maritime industrial requirements with future urban renewal potential, e8urban delivered a nuanced, evidence-based planning framework that clarifies the physical and financial trade-offs inherent to transforming one of Sydney Harbour’s most prominent industrial foreshores into a mixed-use waterfront district.