The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has declared a further 15 housing proposals as State Significant Development (SSD) following recommendations from the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).
These new housing proposals, if approved, could deliver more than 7,000 new homes.
After three briefings in two months a total of 44 housing development proposals have been declared state significant under the HDA, with the potential to deliver more than 22,000 new homes, once proposals are assessed.
Since the first meeting, nine projects have also had Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements issued, the first step in the assessment process which signals a good flow of projects progressing quickly along the SSD pathway.
To date, the Authority has received over 250 expressions of interest. At its latest meeting, 32 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. To be declared state significant, proposals submitted to the HDA that are already being assessed via another planning pathway need to be withdrawn from that pathway.
All proposals declared as 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.
This is all part of the Minns 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 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 and shopping centres to address the "missing middle."
- 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.
Recommendations from the HDA are published as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before the SSD declaration. For more information visit Housing Delivery Authority | Planning.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
"These latest projects that I have declared as State Significant Developments have the potential to deliver more than 7,000 new homes including affordable housing.
"The Housing Delivery Authority is not a silver bullet to our housing supply challenges, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.
"In three briefings, I have declared projects that could deliver more than 22,000 dwellings into a state-assessed planning pathway, proponents now have nine months to prepares their planning documents, and must commence construction if they are approved within 12 months, because the need for housing is too urgent."
