09 March 2015
The announcement by the NSW Government that 20,000 new home sites will be released over the next 4 years is good news for housing supply, says the Urban Taskforce.
“A diversity of housing types is essential to help with housing supply in NSW and the government’s announcement that 20,000 new home sites will be released over the next four years will help provide diverse housing,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “The release of land in Metropolitan Sydney, the Southern Highlands and the Lower Hunter will help with greenfield housing and the funds raised from the sales will be reinvested into urban renewal housing projects.”
“The combination of greenfield home sites and urban renewal sites should enable a range of housing types from detached houses to town houses and apartments. While there has been a growing interest in urban apartment dwellings in recent years this is balanced by a continuing interest in detached houses on greenfield sites generally on the edge of urban areas. Diversity of housing types is an important outcome of government policy.”
“Government owned land also provides an opportunity for affordable housing to be produced and it would seem appropriate for some proportion of the 20,000 home sites to be for more affordable housing.”
“While housing supply in metropolitan Sydney has been increasing over recent years there is still a big shortfall that will need a simpler planning system as well as the release of more home sites.”
“The next state government in NSW must address the current complex planning system and the confusion that comes with 41 separate councils across Sydney. The proposals for a Greater Sydney Commission and for the reform of local government need to lead to significant outcomes if housing supply is going to be lifted to the levels required.
