NSW Puts 6400 Homes Up for Fast-Track Planning Scheme

Eleven residential projects across Sydney, comprising 6400 homes, have been selected as the first proposals to be fast-tracked for assessment by the NSW Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).

The projects were selected for consideration under the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, implimented to accelerate large-scale housing proposals by removing them from council assessment processes.

The list was revealed after authority’s inaugural meeting this month.

The HDA panel—Premier’s department secretary, Simon Draper, planning secretary Kiersten Fishburn and Infrastructure NSW chief executive Tom Gellibrand—assessed 28 expressions-of-interests.

Among the 11 projects selected was a 2020-home development planned for 11-17 Blaxland Road, Rhodes and a 1400-home apartment complex at 1 King Street,Canada Bay.

Also selected was a 120-apartment project proposed for at 85-91 Thomas Street, Parramatta, and a 96-home build-to-rent plan for Waterloo by Coronation Property.  Both include an affordable housing component.

▲ An aerial view of the site 11-17 Blaxland Road, Rhodes.

A 600-home plan, that includes a registered club, affordable housing and essential worker accommodation for 724-730 Victoria Road, Ryde, was also on the list.

But a proposal for Macquarie Road, Ingleburn was rejected due to the site’s complexity, significant environmental constraints, poor location and the need for further planning work to address the issues.

Planning minister Paul Scully said the authority’s role extended beyond new developments, offering a path forward for stalled projects.

“The Housing Delivery Authority not only encourages new housing proposals by asking for expressions of interest, but it also allows existing proposals to receive fast track consideration by being assessed by the State rather than the ... council,” he said.

▲ An aerial image of 1 King Street, Canada Bay.

The creation of the HDA was part of the Minns government’s broader strategy to increase housing supply across NSW.

Scully said it was “about making sure that good projects get moving”.

Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive Tom Forrest welcomed the early progress.

▲ Aerial image of 881-885 Bourke Street in Waterloo.

Forrest also praised the government’s decision to publish application details, describing it as a critical step to maintaining public and industry confidence.

“The transparency of this process is critical to ensuring the respect of the public and stakeholders,” he said.

The surge in applications highlighted how constrained the development sector had been under the existing system, Forrest said.

“Investors, financiers, developers and builders had been sitting on this massive number of development opportunities, just waiting for a planning system that could give them a chance.”

The HDA received more than 160 expressions-of-interest, representing more than 100,000 proposed homes.

The high demand lead the authority to double its meeting frequency from monthly to fortnightly.

The HDA’s recommendations are now with the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for formal consideration.

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