New state-led pathway looks to speed up major housing projects by bypassing council approvals
The Minns Labor government of New South Wales has unveiled plans for a state-led approval pathway aimed at expediting the development of major housing projects.
The reforms, set to take effect in early 2025 following stakeholder consultation, will bypass local council approvals to streamline the process and deliver new homes more quickly.
The new pathway will apply to housing projects valued at over $60 million in Greater Sydney — typically involving 100 or more homes — and over $30 million in regional NSW, equating to around 40 or more homes.
The initiative will be overseen by the newly established Housing Delivery Authority (HDA), operating within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). The HDA will include key government officials, such as Simon Draper, secretary of the premier’s department; Kiersten Fishburn, secretary of the Department of Planning; and Tom Gellibrand, chief executive of Infrastructure NSW.
While the minister for planning and public spaces will retain ultimate consent authority, the HDA will manage proposals through an expression of interest (EOI) process. Projects will be assessed on merit and benefit from a flexible approach to planning controls, including incremental zoning changes as needed.
In addition to streamlining development approvals, the reforms introduce a fast-track rezoning pathway for projects requiring significant zoning changes. This process will also be led by the DPHI and managed by the HDA through an EOI framework. Proposals will be evaluated against state housing priorities to ensure alignment with NSW’s housing goals. This dual-track approach allows for rezoning and development applications to be considered simultaneously, further accelerating the delivery of housing.
The reforms come amid mounting concerns over housing affordability and supply in NSW. Premier Chris Minns (pictured above left) said the changes are part of a broader effort to tackle the state’s housing crisis and deliver homes near existing infrastructure.
“These are significant reforms that we are not proposing lightly,” Minns said. “For too long, barriers have made it harder to build the homes we need, particularly in well-located areas of Sydney.”
Minister for planning and public spaces Paul Scully (pictured above right) added that the new measures reflect the government’s commitment to cutting red tape and encouraging housing development.
“These reforms mean the State is taking control of major housing projects to ensure they move through the system much faster,” Scully said. “We need to make it easier, not harder, to build homes for the people of NSW.”
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