High-density housing is coming to this Sydney suburb – but not its most exclusive street

One of western Sydney’s most exclusive streets has been removed from a major rezoning plan that would allow for buildings up to 25 storeys high to be built in the suburb.

The state government exhibited plans for Orchard Hills, a semi-rural suburb near Penrith, in 2024. But in a revised plan released last month, The Vines estate was excluded entirely, and the number of dwellings and jobs proposed for the area was slashed.

Under the stage 1 proposal, Orchard Hills, which currently has 603 homes, would be rezoned to allow for 5700 new homes and 2100 jobs. It’s a significant reduction from the 11,600 homes and 4000 jobs that were originally proposed in the draft plan released two years ago.

But the most significant change would be the removal of The Vines – an estate as opulent as its name – from the plan altogether, resulting in a major decrease in the size of the area slated for rezoning. In the 2024 plan, part of the estate would have been rezoned to allow for buildings up to three storeys high and the acquisition of some land and properties.

For many in the community – including the local council – it represented a major change of character for the area, which is known for its large homes, immaculate lawns and sprawling acreage.

In a 60-plus-page submission, Penrith City Council criticised the plan over the rezoning of part of The Vines and the proposed scale and density of the suburb, which it described as being “significantly higher” than what was envisaged in the council’s own local housing strategy.

“The extent of the rezoning cannot be justified and while council supports the long-term development of Orchard Hills south, the current proposal is not appropriate,” the council said in its February 2025 submission.

The state government received a total of 716 submissions on the draft proposal, with 107 of the submissions in response to the inclusion of The Vines.

The suburb is already in the midst of change – the under-construction Orchard Hills metro station stands in stark contrast to the surrounding paddocks, trees and low-rise homes. Under the new rezoning plan, the metro station would form part of the local centre, with residential towers up to 25 storeys to be built within 400 metres of the station.

Minister for Planning Paul Scully said the revisions, including the decision to concentrate development in the town centre and near the metro station and to remove The Vines estate from rezoning, followed community feedback.

“The proposal reflects the Minns Labor government commitment rebalancing housing growth towards new and existing infrastructure paving the way for a vibrant, urban community focused around the future metro station,” he said.

The Sydney Morning Herald has a bureau in the heart of Parramatta. Email parramatta@smh.com.au with news tips.