New homes which follow selected design patterns in eligible locations across New South Wales will be able to receive approval within ten days.

The NSW Government has launched the NSW Housing Pattern Book of low-rise designs.

The book provides a collection of patterns for terrace, townhouse and manorhouse designs which have been endorsed by the NSW Government Architect.

Homes which follow these designs will be eligible for a new fast-tracked complying development pathway.

This will enable approval to be granted within ten days.

(design by Sam Crawford)

The launch is the latest development in efforts by the NSW Government to enable more housing to be delivered in low and medium rise areas across Sydney and other major population centres.

It complements the state’s recently introduced Low and Mid Rise Housing Policy, which includes:

• permitted dual occupancies and semi-detached homes in low density zones; and
• amended planning controls to encourage a greater diversity of dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses, apartments and shop-top housing nearby town centres and railway stations across Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Lower Hunter and Newcastle and Illawarra-Shoalhaven.

The reforms aim to increase housing supply in low and medium density zones by enabling a greater diversity of dwelling types to be delivered in these areas.

According to the Government, these reforms will unlock delivery of up to 112,000 new homes over five years.

The efforts to unlock housing supply come amid concerns that young families are being pushed out of affordable housing markets in Sydney.

This is expected to have broad implications.

In a recent report, the NSW Productivity Commission warned that Sydney would become ‘a city with no grandchildren’ as the city was losing twice as many young people as it is gaining.

The design patterns were selected following an international competition that was launched last year.

(Design by Sam Crawford)

Each of the patterns have been designed by an architect.

However, each can be adapted to suit the preferences and requirements of individual households. This includes different room formations and layouts.

The patterns can be used in places where the aforementioned housing types are permitted with consent.

The designs will be available for $1,000 – although the NSW Government is making each pattern available for only $1 for the next six months.

Normally, homeowners would pay more than $20,000 in professional fees for a custom, architecturally designed home.

Each purchase of a design will come will a complementary landscape pattern. This will help new homeowners to design their own garden which maximises biodiversity and the climate in which they live.

The release of a further pattern book for medium rise housing of 3-6 storeys is expected later this year.

(design by SAHA)

NSW Premier Chris Minns welcomed the pattern book release.

“For too long, too many people in NSW have been locked out of the housing market by rising costs and a system that made it too hard to build,” Minns said.

“We’re changing that.

“This Pattern Book is about giving people more choice, faster approvals, and affordable, high-quality homes – whether you’re a young person trying to get in, a family needing more space, or a downsizer looking to stay close to the community you know.

“This is a practical step to make the housing system fairer – and make sure NSW remains a place where the next generation can afford to live and thrive.”

Property industry lobby groups welcomed the release.

Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest said that the linking of the standardised pattern book designs with the opportunity to turn applications into commencements in just 10 days represents a significant, breakthrough reform.

Forrest says that the pre-approved designs will save months in assessment time.

He adds the patterns will help to drive greater construction efficiency and cost competitiveness on site.

This will occur as builders are able to use the patterns to drive off-site pre-manufactured building components.

This will help to drive greater volume for off-site manufactured homes and will increase competition for the supply of these new home products.

“Today sees the delivery of significant micro-economic reform for the NSW planning system,” Forrest said.

“The pattern book, together with a fast-tracked code-based assessment, will slash planning bureaucracy.

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