Formation, 1976 Established by the NSW Government in November 1976, originally as the Land Commission of NSW, Landcom was tasked with the development of government-owned land and the delivery of new housing through the creation of masterplanned communities for citizens of the state of New South Wales. The organisation's main purpose was to acquire land for present and future urban development and other public uses to help moderate the housing market, stabilise land supply and support the development industry with homesite sales to be made at the ‘lowest practicable price’.
1977–1984 On 23 April 1977, Landcom acquired and released its first land for sale, St Clair Estate in the Sydney suburb of Penrith. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Landcom worked with builders to create land and house package deals for prospective buyers. Landcom also advocated for
rezoning and approval efficiencies to help stabilise the housing market and support industry.
1985–1994 In 1985 Landcom established a team to promote medium-density development. This involved expanding operations to land and house packages and joint-promotion schemes with builders, as well as new partnerships with major landowners and developers, with the objective to increase land supply. Landcom also advocated for coordinated infrastructure funding, subdivision standards, and planning and land consolidation efficiencies. During the early 1990s, Landcom extended its focus to include sustainability, applying Ecologically Sensitive Design, providing community facilities and supporting community building. During this decade the organisation demonstrated
urban infill and medium-density approaches in greenfield development to make effective use of infrastructure and address affordability.
1995–2001 In the mid-1990s, Landcom expanded operations from greenfield development to urban renewal with redevelopment projects in the inner and middle-ring suburbs of the Sydney metropolitan area. In 1998, the organisation and its governance and operations were reviewed and an external Board was appointed by the NSW Government.
2002–2008 On 1 January 2002, Landcom became a
State Owned Corporation under the Landcom Corporation Act 2001. During the 2000s, an important focus of the organisation was setting the highest standards in sustainability principles across its portfolio of projects.
2009–2012 After the
2008 financial crisis, Landcom worked with the then
Department of Housing on social housing and infrastructure to deliver 1,100 new homes in two years, as part of the first tranche of the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan Social Housing Initiative.
2013–2014 In 2013, Landcom started trading as
UrbanGrowth NSW. The new name corresponded with a change in direction resulting from a government mandate to shift from greenfield housing supply to a portfolio of seven urban renewal and infill programs.
2015–2021 In 2015, the organisation was tasked by the NSW Government to supply the equivalent of 20,000 new homesites over the following four years in response to Sydney's growing population. In 2018, the NSW Government reassigned UrbanGrowth NSW's portfolio, with the retail land development portfolio remaining with Landcom. Henceforth, Landcom focused on creation of affordable housing models in partnership with Councils, industry, Community Housing Providers and landowners. In 2019 the targeted 20,000 new homesites in Sydney was reached.
2022 onwards Landcom is continuing to improve the availability, affordability, and variety of residential properties in NSW. In September 2023, the NSW Government announced it would be providing additional funds to Landcom to speed up the delivery of new housing (including affordable housing) in order to address the state's housing crisis. == Landcom Projects ==