22/05/2026
NSW planning might finally be getting simpler.
The NSW Government has released a discussion paper proposing significant changes to how low-rise housing is assessed, and if you're a developer, builder or landowner, this is worth paying attention to.
Low-rise housing (think dwelling houses, dual occupancies, terraces and manor houses) accounts for more than 50% of all development applications in NSW.
Despite being low-impact and low-risk by nature, these projects are often assessed through some of the most complex and inconsistent planning pathways in the system.
Average DA determination times have been sitting at 101 days… far too long for projects of this scale.
The proposed reforms aim to fix that by introducing a targeted assessment pathway that sits between complying development and a full DA, with a target determination time of 50 days.
The proposal also includes consolidating nine separate residential codes into a single, standardised low-rise housing code. One set of controls, one place to look, regardless of which pathway applies.
For developers, this means greater consistency, clearer standards, and a planning process that's actually proportionate to the risk involved.
Submissions are open until 5pm Wednesday 24 June 2026.
If you have thoughts on how these reforms should take shape, now is the time to have your say.
Source: www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/draftplans/exhibition/low-rise-housing-and-targeted-assessment-discussion-paper
