The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has declared a further 18 housing proposals State Significant Developments (SSDs) following the second round of recommendations from the Housing Delivery Authority.
The new housing proposals, if approved, could deliver more than 8600 much-needed new homes.
At its first two meetings, the authority has declared 29 proposals with more than 15,000 potential homes as state significant.
The Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has been established by the Minns Labor Government with a strong mandate to speed up assessment timeframes.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to build a better NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live and in the communities they choose.
The HDA is now accepting expressions of interest for major residential developments above $60 million in metropolitan areas and $30 million in regional NSW.
To date, the authority has received over 200 expressions of interest since it first invited proposals in January 2025. At its latest meeting, a further 39 proposals were examined.
The authority is prioritising high-quality housing projects with detailed plans that can be submitted within nine months and can begin construction within 12 months of approval.
All proposals declared as an SSD will have their development applications assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Without needing to be approved by councils, this can cut approval times and speed up the delivery of new homes.
These complex proposals often require greater resources and planning capabilities and as a result, the projects can get stuck in council planning systems for years.
The HDA offers proponents a new State Significant Development pathway, with the option of concurrent rezoning and assessment.
The SSD applications will be publicly exhibited before they are determined, and the planning department will seek input from councils.
The HDA builds on the Minns Government's recent reforms to the planning system to speed up the delivery of more homes, including:
- The development of the NSW Pattern Book and accelerated planning pathway for those who use the pre-approved patterns.
- The largest rezoning in NSW history around transport hubs.
- The largest ever investment in the delivery of social and affordable housing in NSW.
- $200 million in financial incentives for councils that meet the new expectations for development applications, planning proposals and strategic planning.
- $450 million to build new apartments for essential workers including nurses, paramedics, teachers, allied health care workers, police officers and firefighters.
Once a project has been declared SSD, the proponent will be issued Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEAR). Proponents then have nine months to prepare their Environmental Impact Statement or the SEARs will be revoked.
Clear advice and guidance will be provided to all applicants by the department on the next steps to take with their development proposal. This advice includes an alternative planning pathway for major housing projects that may require a concurrent rezoning but do not satisfy the criteria of the HDA pathway.
Recommendations from the HDA are published as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before the SSD declaration. For more information visit the Housing Delivery Authority webpage.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
"We are fast-tracking quality housing proposals to help deliver homes our state desperately needs.
"These major projects could deliver thousands of homes for young people, families and workers.
"The Housing Delivery Authority is a major change that is already making it easier and faster to get started.
"Without our changes to increase housing supply, Sydney risks becoming a city without a future because it's simply too expensive to put a roof over your head."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
"The Minns Labor Government established the HDA to reduce the time it takes for proposals to progress through a planning pathway, and it is pleasing to see the that the first two HDA meetings have delivered quality proposals that will now develop detailed proposals.
"So far, 29 proposals amounting to more than 15,000 potential homes have been declared state significant.
"The quality of proposals recommended to me by the HDA shows that developers are hearing the message, we're looking for major housing developments that can get out of the ground quickly."
