27 November 2015
The announcement by the NSW Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, that the Government is considering extending faster approvals to medium density housing is good news, says the Urban Taskforce.
“The current Housing Code provides for 10 day approvals for two storey detached houses and this can easily be extended to town houses and terrace houses,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “We believe that mid-rise apartments should also be considered for complying development.”
“The terrace house, dual occupancies and town houses have become standard building types across NSW and should therefore get faster approvals as complying development as proposed by the Government. This will encourage developers to fit within the proposed rules as a quick approval will reduce costs.”
“The Urban Taskforce has produced a publication calling for 30 day approvals for mid-rise apartments of 6 or 8 storeys and we believe the Government should also be considering this building type for complying development (see publication: https://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/https://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/urbanideas/december2014/).”
“As Sydney’s population inevitably increases there will need to be more urban consolidation in existing areas. To replace detached houses with terrace houses is unlikely to be economically feasible in many suburbs but to replace two storey with 6 storey is likely to be feasible and should be encouraged as the next step after the Government’s inclusion of low rise medium density housing as complying development.”
“Mid-rise apartments are the most likely building type to replace 50 year old walk up flats now that the NSW Government has changed the rules to allow 75% of owners to agree to demolition of an existing strata building. To realise the intent of the Strata Act changes the planning system needs to provide for increased floor space and planning rules (such as a complying code for 6 storey apartment buildings) that encourage change and produce good quality, well-designed buildings.”
“The Urban Taskforce is keen to work with the Minister for Planning in simplifying the planning system so that approvals for buildings that fit the rules can be fast tracked.
