This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts has quashed yet another proposal made by his predecessor Rob Stokes, announcing at an industry lunch yesterday that changes to the Design and Place State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) would not go ahead.
It comes soon after Roberts announced he would be canning the “planning principles” that were also released in December by Stokes, just weeks before new Premier Dominic Perrottet reshuffled his Cabinet and put Roberts into the role.
Changes to the Design and Place SEPP were the first step in implementing those principles, with the intention to put “sustainability, resilience, and quality of places at the forefront of development in NSW”.
They included a new Urban Design Guide, setting place-based standards for master-planned projects, and a revised Apartment Design Guide that set basic standards for new apartments with a focus on energy efficiencies, including construction materials and building processes, as well as green features, housing diversity, study spaces and storage, and walking, cycling and public transport use.
New applications requirements were demanded and verification of advice from design review panels being followed. Some industry bodies criticised the reforms for introducing more red tape and complicating the planning process.
Yesterday’s announcement received mixed reviews. The Urban Taskforce welcomed the move yesterday, made by Roberts at one of its own functions.
“The changes proposed in the draft SEPP for the Apartment Design Guide and the new Urban Design guide would have added to the cost of delivery of new homes without improving the design quality of those new homes,” Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest said.
He said Urban Taskforce members welcome the Minister’s decision to limit the design review process to only one meeting.
“One of the greatest constraints on the efficiency of the planning system has been the current system of design review, often involving multiple meetings and lengthy delay. Each iteration of the design review process can take months to convene, often resulting in debate on matters of subjective opinion and contributing little if anything to the final result”, Forrest said.
Minister Roberts explained that applicants can choose to incorporate the feedback from the panel, or explain their reasons for not adopting the panel’s recommendations. This will stop the process of multiple meetings, multiple changes to the design and associated multiple iterations of expensive consultant reports. The assessing planner will consider the application in light of the design review report. Ultimately, the decision will be made by independent panels.
“This is great news for housing supply and for affordability,” Forrest said.
A spokesperson for the Australian Institute of Architects’ NSW chapter said the decision to not progress the Design and Place SEPP was a significant backward step as the state reeled from natural disasters.
“The planning policy and guidelines were a positive move towards a more sustainable, affordable and resilient future for the built environment,” she said.
“To downgrade these sensible policies now is a slap in the face for our communities, especially those recovering from extreme weather.
“We know the science tells us these events will become more common and more severe. To scale back these practical requirements for sustainability and liveability is unfathomable.”
The updates also looked at improving Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) standards that are part of the building approvals process for new homes and renovations over $50,000.
Major changes were to bring building standards for energy and thermal energy in line with proposed changes to the National Construction Code, and new houses would to meet minimum embodied carbon emissions standards.
“Urban Taskforce welcomes the decision to excise the BASIX environmental component from the draft Design and Place SEPP and to proceed with these important sustainability improvements, as planned, later in the year,” Forrest said.
Stokes’s planning principles change sought to introduce nine planning principles to guide the planning system and consolidate 45 existing state environment planning policies into 11.
