The Bradfield Development Authority is steering an ambitious strategy that aims to shape the future of Western Sydney through the development of Bradfield City Centre.
Located within the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, Bradfield City Centre is adjacent to the new Western Sydney International Airport. The 114-hectare development will create 10,000 homes, 20,000 jobs, and unlock significant economic opportunities, making it one of Australia’s largest urban projects and the first major city built in over a century.
Ken Morrison, the Bradfield Development Authority CEO, recently provided insights into the strategy at a Property Council event, emphasising the importance of both current actions and long-term planning.
“The strategy which is rolling out in front of us at the moment is a good strategy. It’s the right building blocks for the future. So we’ve got to be able to deliver on that strategy, but then do more,” Mr Morrison said.
Central to this strategy is forging partnerships with prominent brands in manufacturing and technology.
Mr Morrison emphasised the importance of converting interest from these companies into tangible commitments.
“Part of that next piece for us to open up is to take those partners with some amazing brands, amazing manufacturing brands, technology brands, and convert that real interest, and it is real interest, into actual agreements going into buildings on site,” he said.
Mr Morrison highlighted the need to sustain momentum by maximising early activity in the city.
“But what we’re trying to do is nudge the market so that we get more of this new city as early as possible, to catalyze the opportunity and provide those agglomeration benefits.
“How do we maximize the activity that’s going in early to really give it momentum it needs?”
Named after the engineering visionary John Bradfield, who was instrumental in projects like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bradfield City Centre is designed to be more than just a suburban extension or business park.
“The goal is to create a new city which leverages off the airport and Western Sydney’s manufacturing strength, with a focus on technology and advanced manufacturing and creating an urban environment, not a suburban one or a business park,” Mr Morrison said.
As the Bradfield City project nears a crucial milestone, with the master plan awaiting ministerial approval, the scale of the development is becoming clearer.
The plan envisions more than 2 million square meters of gross floor area, 20,000 new jobs, 10,000 new dwellings, and 36 hectares of open space.
“Our next focus, our next opportunity at the Bradfield Development Authority, is really to convert this interest from amazing Australian and international brands into active space on the ground, underpinning a new development front within the Bradfield City Centre,” Mr Morrison said.
“It’s collectively the biggest urban renewal occurring in Australia. What it will also do is dramatically change the economic landscape of Western Sydney and the whole city decades to come.”
Tom Gellibrand Chief Executive, Infrastructure NSW, said a priority is Western Sydney International Airport and making sure the investment brings rewards to the people of Western Sydney.