Is 30-day approval for mid-rise apartments the solution for Sydney’s supply?

At present, the New South Wales government allows two storey houses to be put through a 10 day planning approvals under the current housing code.

However, Urban Taskforce’s CEO Chris Johnson says that this quicker approval code should be extended to more developments to assist with Sydney’s supply problems.

While he acknowledges that taller towers will be crucial in this mix, he says that unsurprisingly they do take longer to be assessed.

For mid-rise apartments, of six to eight storeys, he suggests that a 30 day approval could be brought in.

“With Sydney’s projected population growth requiring a doubling of the number of homes over the next 50 years, we must encourage more mid-rise apartments as a major component of housing such large growth,” he said.

“We cannot rely only on two storey houses so a mid-rise apartment code with 30 day approvals will be needed.”

They have created a two page Complying Code that could be introduced for mid-rise apartments.

The requirements in the code include specific rules for setbacks, heights, landscaping, parking, apartment size and so on, and also requires architects to design the development.

“The planning system does not need vast volumes of complex rules. Our code respects the context and the amenity of neighbours as well as requiring an expert to deliver a quality result,” he said.

“Mid-rise apartments represent a third way to deliver housing between two storey houses and high-rise apartment towers. At a height of six to eight storeys these apartments are family friendly with parents able to keep an eye on children playing in a common garden. They also blend into the landscape well as the Australian gum tree grows to height similar to an eight storey building."

He also suggested that large areas featuring 1960s walk up flats could be renewed under the new code.

“The proposed mid-rise apartment code would be a strong signal from the government that it supports this building type as a preferred way to house the growing future population,” he said.

The full Complying Code is available online (page 6).

{mijopolls 70}