Developers can now submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to have their development applications declared as 'State Significant Development' (SSD) after the launch of the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) in December 2024.
The NSW Government's new Housing Delivery Authority is a state-led approval pathway that seeks to streamline approval and delivery of major housing proposals by removing local councils from the approval process.
Clarence Valley Council's General Manager, Laura Black said the HDA pathway does not replace the existing 'regionally significant development' pathway, where development applications are assessed by Clarence Valley Council's professional staff and determined by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.
"From 8 January 2025, applicants may make an EoI to have their development applications declared as 'State Significant Development', where they are new housing projects over $30 million (on average 40 or more homes) in regional NSW. The HDA pathway also includes an option where a State Significant Development application can be considered with a concurrent rezoning proposal.
"The HDA's EoI process includes criteria that focuses on multi-dwelling housing, residential flat buildings, and shop-top housing delivery, including a contribution to affordable housing supply, and limits proposals to locations that are well-serviced by infrastructure and free from environmental hazards and constraints, including flood and bushfire prone areas.
"This means that subject to a proposal being accepted into the HDA pathway, Clarence Valley Council would have no role in assessment or determination of the State Significant Development application."
More information on the Housing Delivery Authority and the process can be found here: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/housing-delivery-authority
