Chatswood 2060 will map out how one of the North Shore’s busiest centres can accommodate more homes, jobs and investment over the next 35 years while still making room for trees, open space, sunlight and community life.
Willoughby City authorities have begun work on the long-term vision and master plan, which will guide Chatswood’s growth, liveability and identity through to 2060 and beyond.
The project is expected to address a central issue for the suburb’s future: how greater housing and employment density can be supported without overlooking the parks, greenery, facilities, transport connections and public spaces used by the community.
Chatswood already serves as a major employment, retail and transport hub, with strong public transport connections, an established employment base and existing investment in infrastructure and services. Those characteristics have also placed it among the locations identified as having potential to accommodate further housing growth.
Making Room For Trees, Sunlight And Open Space
The long-term planning work will consider the form that future density takes, rather than concentrating solely on the number of additional homes.
Trees, open space, sunlight and community activity have been identified as elements that should remain part of a denser Chatswood. The wider list of community needs includes tree canopy and green spaces, improvements to the public domain, schools, community facilities and public and active transport connections.
The approach is intended to have housing growth occur close to jobs, services, transport and open space while considering the infrastructure required as the population increases.
That extends beyond physical infrastructure. Arts and cultural facilities, local businesses and places where people can meet and connect also form part of the longer-term vision for the centre.
Chatswood’s role as the cultural heart of the North Shore is another element the master plan is intended to maintain as the area develops. The vision includes access to parks, arts and community facilities while providing places that can be used by people of different ages and backgrounds.
Chatswood 2060 To Look Beyond Housing Numbers
The planning process also considers employment and investment alongside residential growth.
Future development is expected to build on Chatswood’s proximity to jobs, services and transport, while the master plan will consider how supporting infrastructure can be coordinated with that growth.
The project also places public and active transport within the broader liveability picture. Chatswood and St Leonards have been identified by council as locations suited to greater density because of their transport connections, with the Chatswood plan intended to consider how that development can occur alongside green space and community infrastructure.
Rather than treating parks, schools, transport and community facilities as separate from new housing, the planning work will consider them as part of the same long-term growth picture.
Community To Have A Say On Chatswood’s Future
Residents, businesses, workers, landowners and community groups will be invited to help shape the direction of Chatswood 2060 as the project develops.
A launch event is expected to be announced soon, beginning the process for community members and other stakeholders to outline their ambitions for the centre.
Willoughby City Council is also working with government agencies and stakeholders as it considers how future housing and employment growth can be planned alongside the infrastructure needed to support it.
Further community involvement is expected when a draft master plan is released in early 2027 for consultation. That stage will provide the public with an opportunity to examine the proposed direction for Chatswood before the long-term planning process moves forward.
Published 31-August-2026
