The City of Sydney has announced a new laneway rehabilitation initiative that would alter a number of Sydney's inner-city alleyways and under-utilized places.

The different laneway improvements, according to Lord Mayor Clover Moore, will help lure people back into the city.

“We’re giving a new lease of life to forgotten spaces in the centre of Sydney to welcome people back into the city when it’s safe to do so, and support local businesses that have been devasted by the ongoing pandemic,” she said.

From 2022, ten laneways are slated for reconstruction during the next ten years. In a statement, the council highlighted the proposed projects:

Barlow Street

Barlow Street, between George and Parker Lane, is currently home to a temporary installation by the artist ensemble Dirt Witches. It was put in January 2021 as part of a temporary laneway art and alfresco activation initiative aimed at encouraging and supporting a return to the city centre following the 2020 lockdown. The public has overwhelmingly backed the little banksia forest, with more than a dozen demands to keep it closed permanently.

The expansion of the George Street pedestrianisation to Central Station presents a perfect chance to create a permanent landscape installation in Barlow Street's western part.

St Laurence Lane

Upgrades to St Laurence Lane and enhanced lighting, as well as a new light rail stop in Rawson Place at the end of the alley, will give opportunities for local businesses and encourage visitors to explore the area on foot.

Curtin Place and Hamilton and Little Hunter streets

As part of the development of 280 George Street, a portion of the laneway flowing off George Street was recently improved and turned to a shared zone. Between George and Pitt streets, it forms a laneway network and pedestrian links with Hamilton and Little Hunter streets.

Randle Lane, York Lane and Wynyard Lane

Once the renovation works around Wynyard railway station and the construction of the new Metro station at Central are completed, these inner-city laneways will be revitalised.

Randle Lane, which runs adjacent to the new Metro pedestrian portal on the eastern side of Central station and will see a lot of foot traffic, and York and Wynyard lanes, which run next to the improved development at Wynyard station, will see a lot of foot traffic.

These lanes provide additional chances for local businesses as well as new connections for those wandering in the city centre.

Underwood and Dalley streets

The development and revitalisation of these minor streets, which are located in the Quay West Quarter, will assist public domain improvements throughout the district.

On September 20, the council unanimously approved the priority plan.

“We first unveiled our laneways program in 2007 and since then 26 laneways have been brought to life with bars, restaurants, retail outlets and acclaimed art installations,” said Moore.

“Much-loved spaces such as Angel Place, Ash Street, Tank Stream Way and Penfold Lane and Hosking Place are just some of the wonderful examples of this dramatic inner-city rejuvenation.

“Now that work has finished on the light rail project, we can get to work on completing our vision for a city that is people focused and business friendly, drawing together city workers, residents, visitors, entertainers, artists and the hospitality sector.”