Local Government

Housing NSW remains committed to working closely with local government and residents in building strong local communities. We are regularly meeting with Councils to outline the overall benefits to the community including more social housing for people in need, secured jobs in the local economy and upgraded and well-maintained social housing homes.

The majority of properties we are building and buying will be managed by local community housing providers. Housing NSW will not be building large concentrations of social housing and our new housing will be architecturally designed to blend in with the local area. We are incorporating Environmentally Sustainable Design features into our properties and they include fixtures and fittings that are robust and minimise need for maintenance and upkeep.

To address the ageing population and increase in the number of people with mobility issues we will be building homes that are smaller, well-located and easily adaptable. They will be close to transport or easy walking distance to shops, medical and community facilities.

Local government is welcome to contact Housing NSW’s local offices for additional information on the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

Planning reforms

The NSW Government's new Affordable Rental Housing - State Environmental Planning Policy (AHSEPP) is designed to increase the amount and diversity of affordable housing in NSW by better encouraging home owners, social housing providers and developers to invest and create new affordable rental housing to meet the needs of the growing population and existing residents.

It provides Housing NSW with the assessment and determination role for developments of 20 units or less and for no more than 8.5 metres in height; demolitions of houses that are complying development and are not heritage listed; and for subdivision of land.

The AHSEPP streamlines the planning system and this provides Housing NSW with the capacity to fast track redevelopment of existing properties and supports the delivery of social housing. In addition, the AHSEPP provides for the development and realignment of Housing NSW land, which significantly reduces budgetary impact in the provision of social housing.

Housing NSW is required to give 21 days notice to council, any relevant planning authorities and to adjoining neighbours and consider any submissions that are received within the notification period for all projects assessed and determined under AHSEPP.

The timely gazettal of the AHSEPP will assist Housing NSW with achieving its targets under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan (NBESP). In addition to the AHSEPP, the NSW Infrastructure Co-ordinator General (ICG) also has various planning approval powers to  ensure the timely delivery of NBESP projects by State Government agencies.

Under the Nation Building and Jobs Plan (State Infrastructure Delivery) Act 2009, the ICG Taskforce will conduct a merit-base assessment and determination of NBESP projects that cannot be assessed under AHSEPP. This approval route relates to NBESP projects only and will not used to assess Housing NSW business-as-usual projects.

For NBESP projects approved by Housing NSW or determined by the Taskforce under the NBJP Act 2009, no Section 94 fees will be paid for developments with 20 dwellings or less. For projects with over 20 dwellings, Section 94 contributions will be paid for the 21st and subsequent units up to a maximum of $10,000 per unit in Sydney Metro or $5,000 in other areas (or the council contribution/unit, whichever is the lesser). All fees in relation to Sections 64 and 72 are still payable.

For business-as-usual Housing NSW projects that are not part of the NBESP, whether approved by Housing NSW under the AHSEPP or by the local Councils, normal Section 94 contribution requirements will generally be paid.  This reflects Housing NSW’s longstanding policy in relation to those contributions.

Further information