The government’s proposed development reforms have faced a backlash from industry and forced the department back into consultation,after peak bodies said the current measures were “impractical and unfeasible”,and unlikely to entice developers to build affordable housing.
But the government’s confirmation the City of Sydney would be exempt has raised eyebrows given the decision was not announced publicly,and the premier’s prior commitment to ensuring higher-density targets were not solely dumped on the city’s west.
Minns and Planning Minister Paul Scully announced plans in mid-June to let developers build higher and denser,but only if 15 per cent was set aside for affordable and social accommodation.
Developments worth more than $75 million that clear the 15 per cent hurdle would be fast-tracked through the “state significant development” pathway,which bypasses local councils and planning panels,and get access to a 30 per cent floor space and height bonus.
Opposition planning spokesman Scott Farlow said the need to rewrite the planning reform demonstrated the policy was rushed and had failed to adequately consult industry and stakeholders.
“The government claimed their policy would accelerate housing delivery,yet the real outcome of their lack of detail has been to slow supply coming to the market as industry sits on their hands waiting for the detail,” he told theHerald.