The NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has today declared a further 15 housing proposals as State Significant Development (SSD) following recommendations from the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).
After three briefings in two months a total of 44 housing development proposals have been declared state significant under the HDA.
“These latest projects that I have declared as State Significant Developments have the potential to deliver more than 7,000 new homes including affordable housing,” said Minister Paul Scully.
“The Housing Delivery Authority is not a silver bullet to our housing supply challenges, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
“In three briefings, I have declared projects that could deliver more than 22,000 dwellings into a state-assessed planning pathway, proponents now have nine months to prepares their planning documents, and must commence construction if they are approved within 12 months, because the need for housing is too urgent.”
Since the first meeting, nine projects have also had Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements issued, the first step in the assessment process which signals a good flow of projects progressing quickly along the SSD pathway, said Minister Scully.
To date, the Authority has received over 250 expressions of interest. At its latest meeting, 32 proposals were examined.
The authority is prioritising high-quality housing projects with detailed plans that can be submitted within nine months and can begin construction within 12 months of approval. To be declared state significant, proposals submitted to the HDA that are already being assessed via another planning pathway need to be withdrawn from that pathway.
All proposals declared as SSD will have their development applications assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, without needing to be approved by councils. This can cut approval times and speed up the delivery of new homes.
Recommendations from the HDA are published as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before the SSD declaration. For more information visit Housing Delivery Authority | Planning.
