24 July 2024
Understanding the Recent Changes to NSW Housing and Planning Controls
The Northern Beaches Council, in line with the NSW Labor government’s sweeping planning reforms, has had significant changes to housing and planning controls forced upon it to address affordability and accommodate growth. These changes aim to diversify housing options and ensure sustainable development, impacting 124 council areas across the state.
Key Changes in Housing and Planning
- Dual Occupancies and Semi-Detached Dwellings:
From 1 July 2024, amendments permit dual occupancies and semi-detached dwellings as strata titles in all R2 low-density residential zones across NSW with development consent. Key exceptions for the Northern Beaches include land mapped as bushfire prone, heritage item land, and coastal vulnerability or wetlands areas under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021, Chapter 2. The Stage 1 changes mainly impact areas covered by the Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2011 (WLEP2011). These dwellings are now allowed with development consent in R2 zones, assessed against WLEP2011 and Warringah Development Control Plan (DCP) controls. New developments must comply with standards on landscaping, car parking, building height, and boundary envelope. However, the Northern Beaches Council aims to have a new LEP approved by Government to be exempt from these controls, which could delay new opportunities, but this could take some time and may not get approved as desired.
Proposed non-refusal standards for Dual Occupancies:
– Maximum Building Height: 9.5m
– Maximum Floor Space Ratio (FSR): 0.65:1
– Minimum Site Area: 450m²
– Minimum Lot Width: 12m
– Minimum Car Parking: 1 space per dwelling
- Mid-Rise Housing Controls:
Later in 2024, terraces, townhouses, and small flat buildings will be allowed in R2 zones within 800 metres of dedicated town centres. Additionally, flat buildings up to seven storeys will be permitted in R3 medium-density zones. These locations have not yet been finalised, so it is unclear what locations will be affected on the Northern Beaches other than the current major centres of Brookvale, Frenchs Forest, Mona Vale, and Dee Why.
- Transport-Oriented Development:
The state’s transport-oriented development program now allows apartment blocks of up to six storeys within 400 metres of certain railway or metro stations, with expansion plans for more stations by next June.
- Affordable Housing Initiatives:
The council is committed to increasing affordable housing options by waiving development contributions for affordable rental housing developments and setting targets for affordable housing in new planning proposals.
Impact of Statewide Reforms
The NSW Labor government’s reforms will require nearly all NSW councils to consider development applications for dual occupancies, semi-detached homes, and other low- to mid-rise housing types. This initiative aims to boost housing supply significantly, potentially creating about 112,000 new homes across Greater Sydney, the Hunter, the Central Coast, and the Illawarra. This would cover 30% of the homes needed under the National Housing Accord target by 2029.
Under the new benchmarks, Ku-ring-gai’s five-year target has increased from 3,000 to 7,600, while Woollahra’s has nearly quadrupled from 500 to 1,900. North Sydney, the Northern Beaches, and Fairfield have all doubled from 3,000 to 5,900 each.
Implications for Residents
These legislative changes are expected to provide more diverse and affordable housing options, benefiting current residents and newcomers. With the focus on sustainable and strategic development, we hope they will help maintain the unique character of the Northern Beaches while addressing housing affordability challenges.
Staying Informed
Residents are encouraged to stay informed and get involved in the planning process. For more details and updates, visit the Northern Beaches Council Housing page.
This summary provides a brief but hopefully clear overview of the legislative changes and their impact on the Northern Beaches community, incorporating the recent statewide planning reforms and their implications. For more detailed information, refer to the Northern Beaches Council website or get in touch with your local Cunninghams agent here.
