Minns Labor Government lays down the gauntlet on former Forest High School site
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
The Minns Labor Government will challenge housing providers to deliver the maximum amount of affordable housing on the former Forest High School site.
Property and Development NSW will undertake a Registration of Interest campaign to gauge private sector interest in developing the former high school site, with consideration given to the amount of affordable housing that providers can deliver, alongside ensuring value for money for taxpayers.
The former high school site was declared surplus following a NSW Government land audit, which found the site was no longer needed for school purposes and suitable for housing. The land audit has so far identified sites capable of delivering approximately 12,400 homes for families across the state.
The former Forest High School site will be transformed into a mixed-use town centre with new dwellings, including affordable homes for key workers such as staff at the neighbouring Northern Beaches Hospital.
The approximately 6.3-hectare site has a developable footprint of 3.3-hectares zoned for mixed use with a height limit of up to 40 metres and maximum floor space ratio of 2.75:1. The remainder of the site is zoned E2 commercial and RE1 public recreation, ensuring that accessible green open space will be available to current and future residents.
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/frenchsforest
The new Forest High School at Allambie Heights opened its doors to students from Term One 2026 allowing for the transformation of the former school site to take place.
The high school relocation and new town centre are among five big moves proposed in the Frenchs Forest 2041 Place Strategy which aims to deliver around 1,000 homes in the new town centre with a minimum of 150 dwellings set aside for affordable housing.
In June, Property and Development NSW will launch a Registration of Interest campaign to gauge private sector interest in developing the former high school site. Interested parties can submit a Registration of Interest via the NSW Government’s tendering portal www.buy.nsw.gov.au
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
“We’re determined to use every lever we have to tackle the housing crisis, and that means challenging the market to deliver more affordable homes where they’re needed most.
“The property audit continues to unlock opportunities to deliver more homes sooner on government-owned land.
“The former Forest High School site will be transformed into a revitalised town centre including more than 1,000 new homes and, most importantly, at least 150 of these dedicated to affordable housing for the key workers including frontline health staff working next-door at Northern Beaches Hospital.
“We’re laying down the challenge to housing providers: the more affordable housing you can deliver, the stronger your proposal will be.”
Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan said:
“I am thrilled that the next phase of the Frenchs Forest Place Strategy is officially underway as the Government unlocks the former high school site for a significant injection of much needed key worker housing. This is a once in a generation opportunity for our community.
“The revitalised town centre, which will occupy this site, will sit alongside our Northern Beaches Hospital which, after a long and difficult journey over the past 7 years, is now owned and operated as part of NSW’s public health system.
“The redevelopment of the old Forest High School site as the new town centre is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shift the dial on affordable and key worker accommodation on the Northern Beaches. Bus drivers, police, teachers, nurses and health care workers, to name just a few, should be able to live in the communities where they work. This will be a game changer for our community if we get this right. We need to think big. I am determined to make sure we don’t let this opportunity pass us by.”
