“Getting things approved has been and continues to be one of the biggest barriers to housing supply in this state. The time it takes to get an approval from council adds months and months to the construction time and thousands of dollars to the cost.

At today's HIA Minister’s Luncheon we heard from the Hon. Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Abbie Galvin, NSW Government Architect about how the NSW Housing Pattern Book and associated streamlined approval pathway helps improve feasibility and most importantly provides the industry with certainty. 

“It is what the industry has been calling out for and has the potential to be a real game changer,” stated Mr Armitage.  

“Enabling a greater range of housing types to be built on more lots in NSW particularly in the low and mid-rise housing areas and approved in 10 days is crucial to addressing the housing shortages.  More sensible requirements for aspects such as car parking also helps further reduce costs and improve feasibility.  

“The Low rise NSW Housing Pattern Book is a subtle yet a significant change that lays the platform for bigger things to come. It shows that the NSW Government is prepared to implement bold reform to address the housing crisis. 

“HIA will continue to work with the government to build on this foundation and explore other opportunities to reduce red tape that enables industry to get keys in doors sooner,” concluded Mr Armitage. 

Statements attributed to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure: 

“The NSW Housing Pattern Book aims to not only accelerate housing supply, but also create more housing choice, so young people, families and downsizers have somewhere to live in the communities they choose. 

“Much of Sydney was built on pattern books. The 8 low-rise designs are, high-quality, affordable and easy to build to take the delay out of home-building. 

“The NSW Housing Pattern Book is supported by the NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy that permit terraces, semis, townhouses, and manor houses across the state. These changes unlock new development opportunities in areas previously limited by zoning restrictions, particularly around transport hubs and town centres. 

“The introduction of a new Complying Development pathway enables NSW Housing Pattern Book designs to be approved in as little as 10 days, significantly reducing administrative overhead and holding costs. The ready-to-use drawings also enhance certainty for builders and investors looking to enter the property market. 

“The NSW Housing Pattern Book allows builders to access high-quality plans at a fraction of the cost of traditional design fees. This lowers the cost base for projects and improves affordability for clients. 

“The pattern book is designed to be accessible not only to large developers but also to small building companies, existing landowners, and co-investors, helping diversify participation in the housing market. The designs are standardised for efficiency but remain adaptable to different site conditions and client preferences. This allows builders to streamline construction processes while still offering customisation. 

“All the patterns are designed with efficient and standard construction methodologies in mind, using common materials so that builders will find them straightforward to build and residents will find them easy to maintain.”

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