Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to create low and mid-rise housing

The Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to create low- and mid-rise housing was on public exhibition from 15 December 2023 to 23 February 2024. The document is still available for viewing. We thank everyone who has made a submission. 

We are currently considering all feedback and approaches to ensure our reforms are applied in the right areas and support the development of more low and mid-rise housing where people want to live. We will continue to work with councils and other stakeholders to ensure we have the settings right before finalising the reforms.

We will finalise the reforms by mid-2024 through changes to planning legislation.

The proposed reforms seek to:

• Allow dual occupancies (two separate homes on a single lot), such as duplexes, in all R2 low density residential zones across all of NSW.
• Allow terraces, townhouses and 2 storey apartment blocks near train stations and key town centres in R2 low density residential zones across the Greater Sydney region, Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra Shoalhaven (Six Cities Region).
• Allow mid-rise apartment blocks near train stations and key town centres in R3 medium density zones across the Six Cities Region.
• Introduce new planning controls, such as floor space and height allowances, that encourage low- and mid-rise housing in well-located areas.

This will mean more housing within walking distance from transport hubs, shops, and amenities.

It will encourage better uptake of low and mid-rise housing where it is already permitted under the current rules by introducing new planning controls.