Senior School SSDA
We are excited to share information regarding the Newington College Senior School Campus Masterplan (masterplan) – and our related State Significant Development Application (SSDA) – with our community and neighbours.
Newington College’s vision for our Stanmore campus aims to improve the overall experience for our current and future students. This includes better spaces across a range of uses, from wellbeing and fitness, to gathering and assemblies, and even our cafeteria.
We are committed to improving the facilities, access and offering to make Newington a better school for our current students, and also sustain our move to become a fully co-educational school by 2033.
Our delivery of this masterplan, pending SSDA deliberation and approval, will ensure that we continue to provide a world class and inclusive environment for our students to develop great hearts, inspired minds and strong wings.
The principles which have guided the design of the masterplan have been:
- To create a more connected campus, with related subject precincts, and student services central and accessible to all;
- To retain our treasured greenspace and to be cautious about excavation;
- To build with minimal disruption to the teaching heart of the school; and
- To increase parking and amenities for everyone attending the campus.
Where is the Masterplan up to?
The proposed Masterplan for the Newington College senior campus at Stanmore is now finalised and has been submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (DPHI) for approval as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA).
The webpage to follow progress is available here.
The image here shows six stages to the Masterplan, which are:
Stage 1: Redevelopment of Sevington Courts and new entry plaza from Stanmore Rd, into a new multi-purpose learning, gathering, fitness and wellbeing centre for Newington (and community) use, with a new basement 100-space car park for staff and visitors.
Stage 2: Refurbishment and re-use of Centenary Hall, as a cafeteria and dining commons, and accompanying lecture theatre in the centre of the campus.
Stage 3: The development of a new College Lane building adjoining Centenary Hall to create a 4-storey teaching and learning centre with classrooms and under-cover link to complete indoor circulation flow around the western edge of campus.
Stage 4: Landscaping and pathway upgrades articulating the pedestrian corridor from Stanmore Road to Newington Road, known as Memorial Drive.
Stage 5: Removal of the existing demountables and creation of second entry forecourt, additional car parking spaces.
Stage 6: Transformation of the Concordia Building located at 221-235 Stanmore Road into a performing arts precinct, with new multi-purpose and teaching spaces, performance theatre, and providing 60 further car parking spaces.
Changes to the masterplan
In early 2025, Newington College engaged with Inner West Council, key government agencies and the local community about the masterplan. Since that time, the College has been working through feedback and refining the design.
The following changes were made as part of that process:
- In response to feedback about more parking on campus, the Sevington Courts redevelopment delivered in Stage 1 was expanded to increase parking capacity. It is now designed to comprise 100 car parking spaces as well as additional classrooms, break-out learning areas, a contemporary fitness and wellbeing centre, a multi-purpose indoor sports hall and rooftop sports courts.
- In response to feedback about creating a civic space on Stanmore Rd, a new classroom pavilion has been incorporated to improve the College’s Stanmore Road frontage, creating a new entry plaza to welcome students, staff, visitors and the local community.
- In response to feedback about traffic in neighbouring streets, the Concordia redevelopment has decreased the number of car parking spaces initially proposed from 101 to 60, which is consistent with current car parking spaces at this site. This change to the proposal aims to reduce traffic impacts on residential and school neighbours.
What impacts from the project are anticipated?
Newington College is committed to being a good neighbour to its school community, the Stanmore community, and the broader Inner West region.
The proposed Masterplan intends to contribute to the provision of excellent school infrastructure in New South Wales, delivering much-needed additional secondary education teaching and amenities in the Inner West. The Masterplan supports the capacity for students at the Senior School increasing over the next several years.
To support Newington College to understand how the proposal may impact the community, we have proactively and transparently consulted school communities and neighbours to understand potential issues of concern, community benefits that can be achieved, and impacts that must be managed.
In addition, the College has worked with a range of technical experts to undertake a series of assessments to identify how potential impacts associated with the construction and operation of the proposal can be appropriately mitigated.
These assessments and reports have been submitted as part of the SSDA and publicly exhibited by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
How did Newington College consult the community?
Throughout March and April 2025, Newington College engaged with the local community about the Masterplan to seek feedback and respond to questions.
Urbis was appointed by Newington College to manage this consultation process.
Newington College held two webinars to provide information and hear feedback on the proposed Masterplan.
The first webinar was held on Monday 10 March, from 6.30pm – 8.00pm. This was held online via Zoom. During this webinar, the College and the project team provided detailed information about the upgrades and answered dozens of community questions.
The material from that webinar is available to be viewed here.
We held a second webinar on Wednesday 2 April from 6.30pm – 8.00pm. At this webinar, we provided an update on the main themes of the consultation process, and the most recent State Design Review Panel meeting. We also highlighted how feedback has been reflected in the proposed Masterplan, with a focus on traffic management.
The material from that webinar is available to be viewed here.
On Saturday 15 March, members of the project team were on-site at Newington College for a community information session. This was held near the Johnson Oval.
The College has engaged Urbis to prepare a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for the project. This independent study will identify and analyse social impacts and benefits, and suggest ways to manage them.
The SIA will guide the final design of the upgrades. The survey period regarding potential social impacts and benefits closed Friday 28 March 2025.
What are the next steps?
Newington College has lodged the SSDA with the DPHI and DPHI will exhibit the SSDA and accompanying technical studies for public comment via its Major Projects Portal – this process is known as public exhibition. The community can make a formal submission at this time.
Before making a decision on the SSDA, DPHI will consider all feedback and may direct the College to respond.
Questions and enquiries
Have further questions? Please contact us by email or phone.
- Email: contact@newington.nsw.edu.au
- Phone on school days: 02 9568 9333
