02 October 2013
The latest ABS figures on housing approvals show that NSW has a slight lift of 1.1% but the proposed planning reforms could boost this much more, says the Urban Taskforce.
“The detailed breakdown of the August housing approval numbers demonstrate that it is higher density housing that is propping up the overall housing supply in NSW, says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “Since the GFC, higher density approvals have risen from a low of 847 a month to the current 1,839 a month, while house approvals over the same time have risen from 1,165 to 1,674.”
“The proposed planning reforms must support the growing trend towards higher density housing by giving the development industry certainty about what is achievable. We are concerned that the recent move by the State Government away from Code Assessable determinations towards merit based determinations will make the approval process harder to achieve. Many of the recent approvals for apartment buildings have come through the now eliminated Part 3A process where the State Government gave support for larger projects.”
“The Urban Taskforce supports the planning approach of involving communities in the master planning of precincts where the overall planning rules are determined. If a detailed application then complies with these rules it should get a quick determination.”
“The planning reforms must not be further watered down or the supply of housing in NSW will suffer. This will make new housing less affordable and drive rents up.”
