This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts’ discontinuation of his predecessor’s “planning principles” released in December has been welcomed by the industry.
One of Rob Stokes’ final acts before leaving the portfolio, the planning principles sought to introduce nine planning principles to guide the planning system and consolidate 45 existing state environment planning policies into 11.
All rezoning applications would have been required to address each of the nine principles along with their sub-principles.
“Planners were confused. Lawyers were aghast. Developers were exasperated. It is great to see this unwelcome initiative abandoned,” Urban Taskforce CEO, Tom Forrest said.
“This is a clear sign that the new Minister is serious about delivering faster decisions and more homes rather than the ivory tower approach taken by the former Minister, which was performing so poorly.”
Roberts said that any principles must help in delivering the government’s clear objective for the planning system, boosting the supply of new homes and housing affordability.
“The Premier has given me a very clear priority – delivering more homes and our principles must help me deliver on that priority,” Roberts said announcing the change.
“I’ve also heard from our stakeholders that the necessary pace of reform due to our swift response to the pandemic has taken a toll.
“I want to work with our stakeholders on ways to boost the supply and affordability so as we do that I have discontinued the Minister’s Planning Principles.”
Sydney’s house prices remain the most expensive in the country, with the median sitting at more than $1.6 million, according to Domain. Australian Bureau of Statistics data yesterday showed a 26.7% annual increase.
Its residential vacancy rate has come down to near pre-COVID levels, sitting at 2.1%.
“Minister Roberts has sent a clear message that he is serious about boosting housing supply. His decision to revoke the Ministerial Direction giving effect to the former Minister’s Planning Principles explicitly states that any planning principles must help the delivery of more homes and the proposed Principles by former Minister Stokes were clearly not helping that cause,” Roberts said.
