In 2005 Penrith was identified as a Regional City in the NSW Government’s Sydney Metropolitan Strategy. As such, Penrith will become a major focus for development to ensure it plays a vital role as an employment hub and service centre for Western and North Western Sydney over the next 25 years.

“Penrith will eventually serve a catchment of over 1 million people”

By 2031 this will mean:

40,000 new jobs across Penrith City

11,000 new jobs in the Penrith CBD

17,000 new dwellings across Penrith City

10,000 new residents in the Penrith CBD

Penrith City was chosen as a Regional City for the following reasons:

1. Strategic position at Sydney’s western gateway
2. A distinctive natural setting on the Nepean River and at the foothills of the World Heritage–listed Blue Mountains.
3. Its growing commercial emphasis, and broad range of retail, community and social facilities
4. Strong cultural and civic hub focused around the Council chambers, regional library, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre
5. Major CBD commercial presences by: the Australian Tax Office (1991), the NSW State Government Office Building (2009), Council and Panthers Entertainment. 

It is a centre not only for surrounding urban areas but also for regional areas further west.

Penrith Regional City is being planned to attract development that can provide a full range of activities which attract people, including retail, government, educational, health, cultural, entertainment and recreational functions.

Some of the projects that are transforming Penrith into a Regional City are shown on the following map: