Can Sydney’s newest city live up to its green hype? Its designers say yes 

• Hatch urban designers reveal how Bradfield will become one of the world’s most sustainable cities
• Comes after State Government approved the Bradfield City Centre Master Plan and the first plane took off from the new Western Sydney International Airport
• Bradfield will feature 10,000 homes and generate 20,0000 jobs, located within a 5-minute metro ride from the new airport 

Just days after the NSW Government signed off on the Master Plan for Sydney’s Bradfield – dubbed Australia’s 22^nd century city and Sydney’s third city – its urban designers, Hatch, have addressed the critical question: can it deliver on its promise to be the most ‘green, connected and advanced’ city in the country? Or will it fall short of the hype? 

Hatch, a global leader in urban solutions, place design, infrastructure and engineering, led the Master Plan for Bradfield, incorporating international innovation and First Nations knowledge to shape a metropolis that could redefine Australian cities amid record-high rising temperatures. 

Over 30 percent of the city is dedicated to parklands, promising a green paradise in Western Sydney, blending urban living with an unprecedented connection to Country. With double the tree canopy coverage of Sydney’s and a blueprint that offers walkability, jobs and future-proof infrastructure, it just might. 

Stephen Moore, a Partner at Hatch, developed Bradfield’s award-winning team and provided strategic leadership throughout the project. He says: “Since the beginning we knew the project had incredibly high expectations, and rightly so. 

“The new airport alone has been discussed for 20 years. Its announcement came with support across three tiers of government and unprecedented investment in infrastructure in Western Sydney. 

“Sydney is facing enormous growth pressure as one of the world’s global destination cities. At the same time, Western Sydney is increasingly experiencing high heat, drought and flood levels and has historical inequalities across jobs, housing, transport, urbanity, greenery, health and more. 

“To address the complex issues while maintaining the grand vision, we used our Great Places™ Framework to drive innovation and world’s best practice.” 

Hatch Principal Sam George coordinated the Master Plan and said it was a four-year process. 

“There were many voices to hear and learn from – from Traditional Custodians and the community to the many state and local government agencies and intra-agency sectors, as well as our project partners and experts across planning, transport, engineering and economic sectors. 

“We prepared hundreds of design studies, options and iterations across hundreds of meetings and workshops to reach the agreed master plan. This inclusive process with lots of dialogue, evidence and testing has helped to create a robust master plan with global innovations.” 

First Nations first 

From the beginning Sam says input and collaboration with First Nations consultants, Traditional Custodians and knowledge holders shaped Bradfield, with workshops and an iterative design process merging knowledge from the world’s oldest living culture with contemporary planning.  

As a result, Bradfield will be linked by a 2.2km First Nations ‘green loop’ cultural trail with natural materials, endemic plantings, First Nations art and stories, and lined with green buildings to provide a connection with Country in an urban setting. 

Sam says: “This has been done in a way and to an extent that’s never been seen before. This could create a model urban for Australian cities that values First Nations culture and knowledge. 

The Master Plan identifies dedicated First Nations health, education and community facilities and the Authority is pursuing strategies for First Nations employment, procurement, business incubators, education and housing to help support self-determination. 

The ‘parkland city’ vision 

The Master Plan allocates 31 percent of the city to parks and 20 percent to green streets. This includes the restoration of vital ecosystems such as the Thompson’s Creek regional park and the Wainamatta Creek corridor to boost local biodiversity. 

Sam says: “We aim to create a cooler, more liveable environment. This is in an area that is experiencing increasing heat waves of up to 10 degrees greater than the coastal parts of the city. The greenery is also critical for habitat, waterways, human health and amenity.” 

In addition, a minimum of 80 per cent of roofs must be covered with bio-solar surfaces to boost passive cooling and clean energy generation. These metrics exceed what has been achieved in any urban centre in Australia today and will create the greenest urban city centre in Australia.  

A micro-neighbourhood metropolis 

Inspired by walkable European cities such as Copenhagen, Bradfield will comprise ‘micro-neighbourhoods’ of 200-300 metres across. They’ll each boast a distinct identity, with ‘main street’ boulevards at their edges for buses, traffic and bike lanes. The internal areas will have smaller, slower, safer local streets, lanes and spaces for people.  

“We’re building Australia’s most bike-friendly city, with extensive cycleways that will rival cities like Rotterdam,” says Sam. 

Infrastructure 

The NSW Government is investing in and delivering infrastructure to support a sustainable city. The Metro line and supporting rapid bus network will be operational from the first day people live and work here. Similarly, the key green streets and separated bike lanes are being delivered now.  

The city’s central two-hectare park, a key feature proposed since inception, will also be ready for opening day to provide the amenity, recreation, art, stories, civic pride and social space to start creating a sense of community from the outset. 

Sam adds another aspect often lagging in greenfield projects is jobs. While the broader aerotropolis will have business parks associated with the airport, he says the Authority has been planning for new, high-value professional sectors in Bradfield such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence electronics, research and education and the first buildings to be completed are purposefully designed for this. 

“There will also be entertainment, culture, dining, shopping, recreation, schools, community uses and housing to create an ‘innovation ecosystem’ that attracts everyone from executives to professionals, tradies, students, families, and tourists,” says Sam. 

Will it live up to the hype? 

Sam and Stephen say yes. 

“This is more than just a city. It’s a model for how Australia can lead in sustainable urban development,” says Stephen. 

“From the embedded First Nations knowledge, greenery, neighbourhood design, transport and infrastructure investment, Bradfield has all the ingredients to become the most sustainable city in Australia, or even the world,” says Sam. 

Bradfield Development Authority CEO, Ken Morrison adds: “This 114-hectare site will become a vibrant, 24/7 global city, driving advancements in industry and act as a central gathering place for arts, culture, and entertainment.”