Submissions close on Friday 23 February 2024
The State Government's Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure released two key planning documents on the state-led housing reforms in late December 2023.
1. Transport Oriented Development Program (TOD)
The State Government's Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure released a document Transport Oriented Development Program.
Part one of the program involves a state-led rezoning within 1,200 meters of eight (8) “Accelerated Precincts” within walking distance of priority high-growth areas near transport hubs in greater Sydney. Crows Nest Metro Station is identified as one of the Accelerated Precincts.
The State Government intends to complete the proposed rezoning by November 2024, with an exhibition of draft amendments around April 2024. To facilitate the rezoning process, the State Government will prepare master planning of each precinct which will determine the extent of the change anticipated.
More detail will be provided when available.
2. Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms
In parallel with the TOD Program, the State Government has also released the low and mid-rise housing reforms. The explanation of these proposals is included in this link and outlines the extent of reforms being proposed to allow additional forms of low and mid-rise housing to be newly permitted.
The proposal seeks to increase development capacity on all land located within proximity of a “station or town centre precinct.” These precincts are to encompass the following land:
- within 800m walking distance of a heavy rail, metro or light rail station; or
- 800m walking distance of Commercial Centre (Zone E2) or Metropolitan Centre (Zone SP5); or
- 800m walking distance of the Local Centre (Zone E1) or Mixed use (Zone MU1), but only if the zone contains a wide range of frequently needed goods and services such as full-line supermarkets, shops and restaurants.
Key implications arising from the reform:
- Height limits of up to 6 storeys and floor space ratios of 3:1 are being proposed, which would effectively enable increased height and density overriding the Council’s local planning controls.
- Within the station and town centre Precincts, the proposal would permit Residential Flat Buildings (up to 6 storeys) within the R3 Medium Density Residential zone (current height limit of 8.5m); and allow manor houses and multi-dwelling housing within the R2 Low Density Residential zone, which are currently prohibited under North Sydney LEP 2013.
- Although a merit-based assessment will continue to apply to developments involving heritage items and Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs), the proposed controls in low and mid-rise reforms will effectively prevail over the Council’s local controls.
Council staff are currently reviewing the exhibition package to report to the Council in February 2024. For information on the current zoning of a parcel of land, please check NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer.
How to make a submission?
We encourage you to provide feedback by submitting directly to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Submissions to the NSW Government close on Friday 23 February 2024.
Community Information Evening
Council arranged a Community Information evening so that Council staff could provide an overview of the proposals and broadly how they may impact the North Sydney LGA. This event was ticketed but also recorded and made available on Council's website.
Click to view the recording.
Click here for information from the evening.
Submissions close on Friday 23 February 2024
The State Government's Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure released two key planning documents on the state-led housing reforms in late December 2023.
1. Transport Oriented Development Program (TOD)
The State Government's Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure released a document Transport Oriented Development Program.
Part one of the program involves a state-led rezoning within 1,200 meters of eight (8) “Accelerated Precincts” within walking distance of priority high-growth areas near transport hubs in greater Sydney. Crows Nest Metro Station is identified as one of the Accelerated Precincts.
The State Government intends to complete the proposed rezoning by November 2024, with an exhibition of draft amendments around April 2024. To facilitate the rezoning process, the State Government will prepare master planning of each precinct which will determine the extent of the change anticipated.
More detail will be provided when available.
2. Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms
In parallel with the TOD Program, the State Government has also released the low and mid-rise housing reforms. The explanation of these proposals is included in this link and outlines the extent of reforms being proposed to allow additional forms of low and mid-rise housing to be newly permitted.
The proposal seeks to increase development capacity on all land located within proximity of a “station or town centre precinct.” These precincts are to encompass the following land:
- within 800m walking distance of a heavy rail, metro or light rail station; or
- 800m walking distance of Commercial Centre (Zone E2) or Metropolitan Centre (Zone SP5); or
- 800m walking distance of the Local Centre (Zone E1) or Mixed use (Zone MU1), but only if the zone contains a wide range of frequently needed goods and services such as full-line supermarkets, shops and restaurants.
Key implications arising from the reform:
- Height limits of up to 6 storeys and floor space ratios of 3:1 are being proposed, which would effectively enable increased height and density overriding the Council’s local planning controls.
- Within the station and town centre Precincts, the proposal would permit Residential Flat Buildings (up to 6 storeys) within the R3 Medium Density Residential zone (current height limit of 8.5m); and allow manor houses and multi-dwelling housing within the R2 Low Density Residential zone, which are currently prohibited under North Sydney LEP 2013.
- Although a merit-based assessment will continue to apply to developments involving heritage items and Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs), the proposed controls in low and mid-rise reforms will effectively prevail over the Council’s local controls.
Council staff are currently reviewing the exhibition package to report to the Council in February 2024. For information on the current zoning of a parcel of land, please check NSW Planning Portal Spatial Viewer.
How to make a submission?
We encourage you to provide feedback by submitting directly to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Submissions to the NSW Government close on Friday 23 February 2024.
Community Information Evening
Council arranged a Community Information evening so that Council staff could provide an overview of the proposals and broadly how they may impact the North Sydney LGA. This event was ticketed but also recorded and made available on Council's website.
Click to view the recording.
Click here for information from the evening.
