Senior School SSDA
We are excited to share the latest developments regarding the Newington College Senior School Campus Masterplan (masterplan) with our community.
Newington College’s masterplan aims to improve the overall student experience including spaces for wellbeing and fitness, our gathering spaces, and even our cafeteria. There is a commitment to improve the campus for our current students, and also sustain the move to become a fully co-educational school by 2033. We are committed to providing a world-class education in an inclusive environment.
The Masterplan will ensure that Newington College continues to provide an exceptional environment for our students to develop great hearts, inspired minds and strong wings.
The principles guiding the design of the masterplan have been to:
- Create a more connected campus, with related subject precincts;
- Retain our greenspace and be cautious about excavation;
- Build with minimal disruption to the teaching heart of the school; and
- Increase parking and amenities for all attending the campus.
Where is the Masterplan up to?
The proposed Masterplan for the Newington College senior campus at Stanmore is now finalised and will soon be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (DPHI) for approval as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA).
The image here shows six stages to the Masterplan, which are:
Stage 1: Redevelopment of Sevington Courts and new entry plaza from Stanmore Rd, with a new 100-space car park for staff and visitors
Stage 2: Refurbishment and re-use of Centenary Hall
Stage 3: The development of a new College Lane building adjoining Centenary Hall to create a 4-storey teaching and learning facility
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 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, and providing 60 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 have been made:
- The Sevington Courts redevelopment delivered in Stage 1 (within the College’s main campus grounds) will 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 addition to the Sevington Courts redevelopment in Stage 1, a new classroom pavilion will be developed at the College’s Stanmore Road frontage, creating a new entry plaza and civic space to welcome students, staff, visitors and the local community.
- The Concordia Building development decrease 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 extra-curricular amenity in the Inner West.
To support Newington College to understand how the proposal may impact the community, we are proactively and transparently consulting 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 is working 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 will be submitted as part of the SSDA and publicly exhibited by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
How is Newington College consulting 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 will lodge the SSDA with DPHI by the end of 2025.
DPHI will then 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.
A final decision is expected in 2026.
Questions and enquiries
Newington College has appointed Urbis to undertaken community and stakeholder engagement to inform the Masterplan process.
You can reach the team on:
Email: newington@urbis.com.au
Phone: 1800 244 863
Please note, enquiry lines are managed Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 6.00pm.
