Better development for all, not luxury for a few

Paddington, Australia’s world-famous suburb of historic workers’ cottages and terrace houses, as well as home to a diverse community, is under threat.

Developers are making a mockery of the State Government’s Affordable Housing Provisions with a plan to build a 9+ floor luxury tower with a 4 floor excavated car park opposite Victoria Barracks.  It will destroy affordable homes, overwhelm the streetscape, and damage an irreplaceable historic area.

We urge the State Government to require more appropriate development and uphold the true purpose of their Affordable Housing Provisions. 

1. This development destroys affordable housing for developer profits

The site currently provides 27 genuinely affordable studios and 5 terraces for people who rely on them. The proposal would replace these with only 12 ‘affordable’ units, and more than 32 luxury apartments, which will make up 82% of the entire tower. This plan represents a 55% reduction in the number of affordable homes.

This is the opposite of what the new housing legislation is designed to achieve.

It will be challenging for our neighbours to find suitable alternative accommodation in Paddington. 

2. The building is far too high and out of character for the neighbourhood

A 9+ floor tower has no place on Oxford Street, or near to 1–2 floor workers’ cottages. It would be taller than St Vincent’s Hospital facing Oxford Street.  This bulky, oversized design is completely out-of-character with the Paddington Heritage Conservation Area. 

Concerningly, other areas of Paddington are similarly zoned and are eligible for these high-rise developments. This is likely to be the first domino to fall. 

3. It threatens an irreplaceable historic area

The development sits at the heart of an important historic area called Little Paddington Village, which dates back to the 1840s and has remained largely unchanged.  The building will also overshadow the neighbouring State and Commonwealth Heritage listed Victoria Barracks.

Once destroyed or overshadowed, these places and spaces can never be brought back.

Paddington deserves protection, not overdevelopment.

By signing this petition, you’re helping to tell decision-makers that our community values affordable housing, our history, and human-scale streets. We want thoughtful, sensitive development, not a tower that destroys what makes Paddington unique.

Please sign and share widely. Our neighbourhood depends on it.

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Instagram: @paddington_united

Facebook: @paddington united

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Email:  preservingpaddington@gmail.com

Please also note that any donations made here go to change.org as a platform, not to this petition. 

The State Significant Development developer proposal is found here.