Urban Taskforce CEO, Tom Forrest, today welcomed the announcement by the NSW Minister for Planning, Paul Scully, that he would introduce a State Environmental Planning Policy to overrule restrictive local Council controls in R2 (low density residential) and R3 (medium density residential) zones.
Well-connected suburbs like Gordon, Killara, Ashfield and Berala, all close to heavy rail stations, were subject to local rules that constrained the type of housing that were permissible, as well as limiting height and density. Today’s decision prohibits Councils from using local planning controls to “switch off” apartment development in these areas.
Since councils have been allowed to amend what was permissible within a residential zone, 60% of all R3 zones within the Sydney basin prohibited residential flat buildings. Only 2 of the 32 Local Environment Plans in Sydney allow for terraces and low rise apartment blocks in R2 zones. These restrictions will be removed.
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