Two new pathways have been announced by the NSW state government, “which could halve assessment times for low-rise homes which account for 70 per cent of all development applications (DA)”.
The government say it will make “it easier and faster to build homes”.
They say, “The pathways which are now out for community consultation propose an expansion of complying development and new targeted assessment pathway which would allow more low-rise, low-impact development like homes to be assessed in 50 days or less so construction can start sooner”.
“The changes, which have been enabled by the landmark NSW Planning System Bill passed in November 2025, will mean a faster, fairer and more modern planning system for communities across the state.
“The NSW Planning System Reform Bill passed Parliament with almost unanimous support including support from the NSW Liberals and Nationals. Complying Development Expansion Complying development already allows low-risk applications that meet all relevant development standards to be fast-tracked in as little as 20 days, compared to an average of around 80 days for a DA.
“However, much like the housing market there has been a gap in assessments between complying development and a traditional development application. Currently, a proposal that fails to meet just one development standard for complying development is required to go through a full DA process, bogging councils and applicants down in unnecessary paperwork and adding cost and more than 60 days on average to the assessment process.
“A new process for variations to complying development, now on public exhibition, would allow straight-forward proposals with a small number of minor departures from development standards to use the faster 20-day complying development pathway instead of proceeding to a full DA.
“Targeted Assessment Pathway A significant change under the legislation enabled a new Targeted Assessment Pathway, aimed at bridging the gap between complying development and a full development application, The first Targeted Assessment Pathway discussion paper, now on public exhibition would enable a new low-rise housing code so applications that don’t meet the test for complying development but have met set strategic planning requirements upfront can be assessed in a target timeline of 50 days – half the existing average for a DA.
“The new pathway would deliver more proportionate assessment options for housing developments like single dwellings, terraces and townhouses.
“This builds on the Minns Labor Government’s work to build more terraces, townhouses and single dwellings, which has been accelerated under the Low and Mid-Rise reforms and the NSW Pattern Book.
“Together, the two pathways will not only speed up assessment of low-risk, low-impact homes and get shovels in the ground sooner, but allow councils to focus resources on bigger or more complex planning matters while retaining oversight of key issues. Both proposals are on exhibition on the NSW Planning Portal until 24 June. Feedback will directly inform how the targeted assessment and complying development variations pathways are developed and staged.
“This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build better communities, with more homes, jobs and infrastructure, so young people, families and downsizers can live in the communities they love. You can read the Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) on Variations and changes to complying development here.
“You can read the discussion paper on Low-rise housing reforms and targeted assessment here. The discussion paper is designed to give all users of the planning system a chance to have their say and inform any future EIE that would also go on exhibition.
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