The NSW government has accidentally published a list of Sydney and regional suburbs targeted for higher-density housing, after keeping it secret for months.

Key points:

· The document sets out plans to rezone land to build 45,000 new homes by 2027

· It reveals the first eight Sydney suburbs to be rezoned

· An official announcement is expected to be brought forward to this week

The hotly anticipated but unfinished document was mistakenly posted on the Department of Planning website on Tuesday, but deleted shortly after.

The document all but confirms the Sydney Metro West will be going ahead, before the government has been able to release its review of the project.

It sets out plans to rezone land around train and metro stations, to build 45,000 new homes by 2027.

What the document tells us about the government's plans

The "Transport Oriented Development program" draft, obtained by the ABC, reveals the first eight suburbs to be rezoned, to "allow for more new and affordable homes".

They are Bankstown, The Bays , Bella Vista, Crows Nest, Homebush, Hornsby, Kellyville and Macquarie Park.

 

The rezoning plans accidentally published by the NSW government.(NSW government)

"The NSW government will master plan and rezone the precincts by November 2024 to deliver up to 45,000 new and affordable homes, within walking distance (1200m) of these key stations," the document said.

The document also lists a further 30 suburbs across New South Wales where land will be rezoned around train stations.

"New planning controls will be applied to these areas, which will allow the development of more multistorey housing," the document said.

Residents will be able to give feedback on the proposals, once the plan is officially made public.

The Sydney suburbs are: Rockdale, Kogarah, Banksia, Marrickville, Turrella, Dulwich Hill, Canterbury, Ashfield, Croydon, Wiley Park, Berala, Lidcombe, St Marys, Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon.

These regional NSW areas are also included: Gosford, Corrimal, Dapto, North Wollongong, Tuggerah, Wyong, Morisset, Booragul, Teralba, Kotara, Adamstown, Hamilton and the Newcastle interchange.

What about the Metro West?

The Sydney Metro West has been under a cloud since the Minns government came to power in March.

The government commissioned an independent review into the project's viability, and has refused to say whether it will go ahead.

But the rezoning document clearly shows the Metro West line on a map.

It also lists The Bays metro station, which is on the Metro West line, as one of the first eight priority development areas.

Labor had promised it would release its decision about Metro West, including whether it would add more stops to the project, by the end of 2023.

What will this mean for residents?

The Minns government has been promising to change zoning laws around transport hubs, to encourage more apartments and higher-density living closer to existing services.

For the first eight metro and train stations listed, it will mean more apartment blocks and townhouses around those stations.

 

Chris Minns has not commented on the leaked plans.(AAP: Dean Lewins)

Premier Chris Minns has committed to an ambitious target of 377,000 new homes by 2029 under the National Housing Accord, an agreement between all levels of government to boost housing supply.

Last week, the government announced it would override local government planning rules in town centres, preventing councils from blocking duplexes and other medium density buildings in "high value" areas close to buses and trains.

Planning Minister Paul Scully said that plan will deliver 112,000 new homes, or 30 per cent of its target.

What has been the response to this accidental leak?

A spokesman for Mr Minns said the government would not comment on the leaked plan.

But an official announcement is expected to be brought forward to this week.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said 45,000 homes were not enough in a housing crisis.

"On the government's own timeline, it will be four years before the first of these dwellings are completed," he said.

"There is an urgent need to address demand now, to take the pressure off rents and the cost of homes for first homebuyer."