Key Information

The NSW Government’s document Wilton 2040: A Plan for the Wilton Growth Area (Wilton 2040) sets the land use vision and structure for the Wilton Growth Area (WGA) – comprising six precincts which will be supported by Council though a neighbourhood planning process. Wilton 2040 indicates a number of commercial centres will be needed – to provide retail outlets, services, hospitality venues, and employment for the community.  

Wilton 2040 estimates the need for approximately 50,000m² of retail floor space for the Wilton Town Centre, and 20,000m² for the local centres, with an aim to create 15,000 new jobs over the next 20 to 30 years. All centres will be developed in stages and in line with the residential development, which is capped at 15,000 dwellings. 

Wollondilly Council commissioned a study into the commercial centres proposed for the Wilton Growth Area – including the main commercial centre of Wilton Town Centre, and smaller commercial centres for day to day use within the residential areas. The Wilton Growth Area Commercial Centres Study identifies the employment and economic development potential of the centres, and shows the demand, location, role and type of centres required to support the future population of the area.

The study also considers the dynamics of the existing and proposed commercial centres, and while Wilton will have a critical role in the supply of retail and commercial jobs for the Shire, including new community and health services, Picton will remain as the primary administrative centre and the cultural and civic hub for Wollondilly. 

The study forecasts that upon full development and occupation, the Wilton Town Centre could generate around 2,365 retail jobs, and in addition, 635 retail jobs in all other local centres combined. This does not include jobs from other industry sections such as education or community services. 

The Commercial Centres Study demand modelling suggests that the Wilton Town Centre could support around 54,285m² of retail floor space by 2046. The modelling indicates broad categories of retail employment space for Wilton Town Centre: 

• 10,000m² of supermarket provision consisting of two full-line supermarkets (~3,500-4,500m²) and one discount supermarket (1,500-2,000m²) 
• 17,500m² of speciality food and food catering including a possible specialist grocery store and liquor, smaller independent grocery, speciality food cafes, restaurants and fast/takeaway food 
• 4,000m² of discount department store 
• 9,500m² of non-food specialties including mini-majors, apparel, home wares and general merchandise 
• 3,800m² of personal services such as hairdressers, beauty salons, massage parlour, optometrist 
• 9,000m² of commercial office/non-retail uses like accounts, allied health, smart-office hubs, travel agents, banking and legal services. 

The Wilton 2040 document was adopted in September 2018, providing a high-level framework for the Wilton Town Centre and the surrounding urban developable land. It identifies an objective to deliver 15,000 new dwellings and 15,000 new jobs by 2040. 

Several strategies, planning documents, and pieces of legislation have an influence in determining the role, function and hierarchy of centres within the Wilton Growth Area. Accordingly, the Commercial Centres Study has undertaken an in-depth analysis of the planning and legislative framework and confirms the provision of commercial floorspace across the town and local centres proposed in Wilton 2040 seems appropriate; and the development of any new centre will need to align with residential growth to ensure trade is not drawn away from established centres. 

• To determine a clear role and function for the centres in Wilton Growth Area;
• To identify comparable centres to demonstrate scale of development;
• To highlight planning issues and risks that need to be factored into future decision making around the centres;
• To determine if the provision of centres is adequate to meet demand generated by 15,000 new homes planned in the Wilton Growth Area;
• To provide clarity around the preferred location for the future centres; and
• To understand the implications on established centres in Wollondilly and surrounding Local Government Areas and vice versa.

The Commercial Centres Study provides an evidence-based framework to inform Council and support decision making around the objectives and controls for future development control plans. It is a stand-alone strategic planning document and will support the delivery of the local centres in the various precincts the Wilton Growth Area, including the Wilton Town Centre.