In the past 12 months NSW councils considered more than 5,250 Development Applications of which almost 1,000 were lodged with minor errors and inconsistencies that were only identified post-consent, resulting in unnecessary and avoidable delays in assessment timeframes.
The Minns Government is releasing a guide for councils on a best practice approach for reviewing draft conditions of consent to reduce errors and eliminate the need for some modification applications.
The planning circular outlines a new proactive step for developments with 30 or more dwellings, which would see councils provide applicants with the draft conditions of consent for their review during the assessment process. Applicants will then have seven days to review the draft conditions of consent and provide council with any feedback.
Introducing this proactive step will help identify and correct these minor errors and inconsistencies before the consent is granted, and ultimately minimise the need for modification applications, reducing delays in the post-consent stage.
This new process is already undertaken for DAs assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. It also supports the Department's introduction in August 2024 of standard conditions of consent and standard format notices of determination, to help speed up assessment timeframes, provide greater consistency and certainty, and make development consents easier to navigate.
The Minns Government is committed to streamlining the planning system from DA lodgement to completion, because that is how we will build more homes and make sure that everyone from workers, families to downsizers can get into a home.
The Minns Government has introduced a suite of reforms 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.
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.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:
"These are simple errors leading to unnecessary delays.
"A planning circular will be issued so that typos don't get in the way of building new homes.
"The NSW Government has adopted a better practice when it comes to consent conditions to see better results and more homes built faster."
