Central Station Precinct Renewal Program

Central Precinct is a NSW Government program to renew around 24 hectares in and around Sydney’s Central Station as part of the broader Tech Central vision. In August 2025 the Minister approved a revised rezoning that enables approximately 950 new homes (with 30% affordable housing), 2,400 jobs and about 13,500 m² of new open space and removes the initial over-station development component. The rezoning allows development applications to proceed across several sub-precincts.

Atelier Ten partnered with Introba as strategic sustainability advisers across planning and early design. The brief sat within a live transport environment with significant heritage, constrained sites and microclimate challenges including urban heat and wind. Policy drivers included Tech Central’s innovation focus and the need to deliver well-located housing and quality public space with stronger connections to surrounding neighbourhoods. These conditions shaped choices about energy, water and open space performance, and required clear, market-deliverable controls aligned with state planning and transport objectives.

We converted ambition into clear delivery mechanisms by developing a sustainability framework and strategy and providing detailed planning inputs. The approach combined peer benchmarking, climate risk and comfort analysis, and targeted engagement with agencies and utilities. This work set certified performance targets, precinct scale design considerations and planning controls that give delivery teams a consistent brief from development application through procurement.

As part of the strategy, we benchmarked global tech precincts to set an ambition that could compete internationally and attract world leading tenants. We also assessed a precinct scale utility concept spanning recycled water, resource recovery and battery storage, aligned to circular economy best practice. Key measures included a commitment to all electric operations; keeping rooftops available for solar, greening and amenity; provision for a precinct thermal utility; recycled water options including potential connection to the George Street main; and a digital masterplan to track performance and manage demand. Although elements of the plan were later scaled back, the work provides a playbook that others can apply across comparable precincts.

The strategy embeds environmental performance targets for both new buildings and the overall precinct, with design hooks for electrification, embedded renewable energy, recycled water, circular economy and integrated mobility. These settings are reflected through design guidance and planning controls, so sustainability is embedded in massing, facades, public domain and utilities from the outset. The legacy is a replicable, evidence-based approach to precinct sustainability that positions Central Precinct to operate entirely on electricity.