NSW to hasten residential approvals with new planning rules

The NSW development approval system has previously been labelled the worst in the world by the Property Council of NSW.

The Daily Telegraph had Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week saying Sydney councils were taking three times as long to approve DAs as their counterparts in Brisbane.

The proposed changes include standardising the format of councils' development control plans, removing 400 formats that exist across the state.

Developers will also be given incentives, yet to be detailed, to resolve objections with neighbours before lodging development approvals.

It is expected to save time and money, and increase harmony, though the Australian Financial Review noted NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes' department provided details of the legislation to the paper on the condition no groups such as Greens and local councils would be approached for comment. 

NSW Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Steve Mann, in comments supplied by the NSW government, said the reforms addressed some long-held frustrations with the planning system by industry, community and local government.