New rules permitting city-centre businesses, shops and restaurants to trade for 24 hours could be introduced next month after Sydneysiders showed enormous support for an overhaul of the city’s late-night planning controls. 

The City of Sydney’s development control plan, if approved this month, would enable 24-hour trading in the city centre stretching from Darling Harbour to Hyde Park and Central Station. The new plan also proposes to allow businesses and low-impact food and drink venues on main village high streets such as Crown Street, Redfern Street, Union Street, and Glebe Point Road to trade until 2am. 

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the proposed changes come in light of feedback from thousands of residents, businesses and visitors who responded last year to the City of Sydney’s first review of late-night planning controls in more than a decade.

“Our late-night trading development control plan is the result of an unprecedented call from the community for practical action to help boost Sydney’s nightlife and economy,” Ms Moore said. 

The plan also proposes new late-night trading areas in fast-growing neighbourhoods including Green Square and Barangaroo and a new cultural precinct in Alexandria, as well as an extra trading hour for live performance and cultural venues in late-night trading areas. 

Under the plan, unlicensed businesses including bookstores, clothing stores, gyms, drycleaners, and hairdressers will be allowed to trade up to 24 hours in the city centre and other busy inner-city areas, until 2am on village high streets, and until midnight in other areas. 

Ms Moore said 85 per cent of respondents supported the proposed changes.

“More than 10,000 people told us they want Sydney to have a diverse and exciting night-time economy with events and activities for people of all ages and interests. What they don’t want is a city that is unsafe or that shuts down as soon as the sun goes down,” Ms Moore said.

“The changes we proposed in response to this feedback strike a balance between supporting well-managed venues to continue to trade and thrive, and managing any impacts they may have on local neighbourhoods,” she added.