NSW Govt Declares 4,000 Homes State Significant

More than 4,000 potential new homes across New South Wales have moved another step through the planning system, with 11 housing projects declared State Significant Development following recommendations from the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).

Announced on 27 October, the latest declarations cover 10 projects in metropolitan Sydney and one in regional NSW.

GALLERY  

If all proposals are formally lodged, assessed and approved, they could contribute more than 4,000 homes to the state’s housing supply, including affordable housing.

The latest round brings the total number of HDA proposals declared State significant to 509, representing the potential for more than 158,000 homes at various stages of planning and construction.

However, the figures also highlight the distance between identifying potential housing supply and delivering homes. Of the 509 proposals, 26 have received development approval, unlocking more than 4,722 homes, while construction has commenced at 11 sites.

A further 95 projects have lodged State Significant Development applications, representing around 38,000 potential homes. These applications will progress through the assessment process, with their eventual scale and form subject to planning scrutiny.

The HDA was established to identify major housing proposals that could be progressed through the State Significant Development pathway. The process is intended to provide a streamlined assessment route for larger residential projects, with the potential to accelerate housing delivery.

For communities, the pathway can mean significant changes to local neighbourhoods, including increased housing density and demand for transport, open space, schools and other essential services. The assessment process therefore remains important in considering how new homes integrate with existing places and infrastructure.

The pipeline also carries a measure of uncertainty. State Significant Development declarations have been revoked from 32 proposals to date, either because applicants chose not to proceed or projects failed to meet required timelines.

Recommendations from the HDA are published under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before a formal State Significant Development declaration is made.

The latest figures point to the scale of the NSW Government’s effort to progress major housing proposals, but the longer-term measure will be how many move beyond the planning pipeline into approved projects and completed homes. For people seeking housing, the distinction between potential supply and homes delivered remains critical.

Images via The Urban Developer

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More than 4,000 potential new homes across New South Wales have moved another step through the planning system, ...