The long-vacant Bidura site in Glebe is the subject of ongoing safety and security concerns, while a new redevelopment proposal for the property progresses through the State Significant Development process.
Read: E-Bike Battery Sparks Garbage Truck Fire on Surry Hills Street
The property at 357 Glebe Point Road includes Bidura House at the front of the site, along with the former Metropolitan Remand Centre and Children’s Court at the rear.
The City of Sydney has recorded multiple reports of trespassing, break-ins, vandalism, fires and other safety incidents at the property. In its August 2026 decision, the City also recorded concerns about potentially asbestos-bound materials and said it had referred asbestos concerns and security measures at the former remand centre to SafeWork NSW.
The owner, Vision Land, has since put additional security measures in place, including external cameras and alarms, site inspections, weekly internal audits and contractors who check the property daily and board up access points.
Safety concerns continue at vacant site
The condition and security of the property have become a continuing issue for nearby residents and local authorities. The City said it issued a fire safety order in July 2024 requiring measures including improved security against unauthorised entry, removal of combustible materials, clear exit paths, surveillance cameras, intruder alarms and external sensor lighting.
The August 2026 City decision records further reports of illegal access, fires and other incidents at the site. It also says the City issued a notice of intention in August concerning unsafe or unhealthy conditions associated with waste accumulation, stagnant pool water and overgrown vegetation.
The City said its staff met with residents and a representative of the owner on site in July 2026 as part of its ongoing response. The asbestos issue remains subject to investigation. The City said Vision Land had reportedly commissioned a report identifying apparently asbestos-bound materials, prompting the referral to SafeWork NSW.
That does not establish that nearby residents have been exposed to asbestos, and there is no finding in the City decision that asbestos fibres have entered neighbouring properties.
Redevelopment remains in planning process
The site’s redevelopment has a lengthy planning history. The property was sold to private developers in 2014, and earlier planning approvals have provided for the retention and conservation of Bidura House while allowing redevelopment of parts of the broader site.
A detailed development application considered by the City in 2023 involved demolition of the former Metropolitan Remand Centre, residential apartments and terrace dwellings, along with conservation works and the continued use of Bidura House.
The current proposal is proceeding through a different planning pathway. The NSW Planning Portal listed the project as State Significant Development application SSD-102660958, with the current status recorded as “Prepare EIS.”
The application is described as residential development with infill affordable housing and proposes two residential flat buildings. The State Significant Development process means the NSW planning system, rather than the City of Sydney, is responsible for assessing and determining the current proposal.
The Glebe Society has raised concerns about the current planning pathway, including the scale of the proposed development and the treatment of the site’s heritage.
Vision Land’s project material said the proposal is intended to respect the social, historic and architectural history of Bidura House while providing new residential development and improving connections through the site.
City to continue monitoring property
The City has resolved to continue monitoring the site, communicate with the owner and local police, and pursue further enforcement action where grounds arise. The City says the owner has already implemented additional security measures in response to concerns about unauthorised access.
The planning process and the site’s safety issues are therefore continuing on separate tracks. For nearby residents, the immediate issue remains the condition and security of the long-vacant property, while the proposed redevelopment moves through the State Significant Development assessment process.
Read: Wentworth Park Greyhound Racing To End As Glebe Site Moves Towards Redevelopment
The NSW Planning Portal currently lists the application at the environmental impact statement preparation stage, meaning the proposal has not yet reached a final determination under that pathway.
Published 5-September-2026
