Housing Codes would simplify approvals

The Property Council recently encouraged the Department of Planning to consider expanding the application of the proposed Greenfield Housing Code to cover a more diverse range of greenfield development options in a submission provided this month. It was felt that a broadened application will be more commensurate of the Code’s intention to facilitate a greater uptake of complying development.

 

The Government’s proposal is to amend the Codes SEPP and introduce a new Greenfield Housing Code to fast track the supply of housing in greenfield areas by increasing the use of complying development for new dwelling houses, in preference to obtaining development consent under local

planning controls or other instruments.

 

The review of the discussion paper from the Government raised key questions on the approach including whether the controls proposed in the Greenfield Code are fundamentally different, and would result in fundamentally different outcomes, to those in the General Housing Code, cost implications and neighbour notification requirements were also raised as were concerns on proposed controls

 

In particular, the new code proposes a higher proportion of landscaped area, in particular for narrower lot sizes, as compared to the existing housing code. This may unnecessarily constrain development, although (particularly for single storey dwellings) it may assist in limiting site coverage to provide appropriately sized outdoor space and limit impacts such as urban heat islands.

 

The key question that further consultation with the government will need to answer is whether another Code, especially one which further fragments and complicates decision making by establishing another approval pathway, will help to reduce complexity and increase the supply of housing.

 

The Property Council will continue to work with the Department of Planning on this important work.