'Pattern book' house plans could be approved in 10 days

Yahoo

a day ago

New homes picked from pre-approved designs could be ticked off for construction in 10 days in another bid to accelerate house building in Australia's most expensive market.
In what the the NSW government has called its "pattern book" of low-rise designs, eight terrace, townhouse and manor house plans are available and will be heavily subsidised to encourage market activity.
It will give people that have been locked out of housing due to rising costs and a planning system that made it too difficult to build homes the chance to live in communities, the government said.
Premier Chris Minns has previously declared war on red tape and blamed a sluggish planning system for his state's poor progress on nationally-agreed housing targets.
NSW is committed to building 377,000 new homes by July 2029 but data has consistently shown it is on track to fall well short.
Master Builders Australia data released in 2024 found the state would come closer to building 300,000 in that timeframe.
"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 - we're changing that," the premier said.
"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."
Planning Minister Paul Scully said the pattern book took the guesswork and delay out of home building, with the pre-approved designs "cost-effective" and "high-quality".
The designs will be available for $1000, but heavy government subsidies mean they will cost just $1 per pattern for the first six months.
The government estimated the designs would typically cost upwards of $20,000 if developed through an architect.Committee for Sydney planning policy manager Estelle Grech said the plans were proof density can be "both beautiful and attainable".
"It isn't an abstract rezoning. It's practical, design-led guidance that shows how you can get more bang from your block, build beautiful homes and help solve Sydney's housing crisis," she said.
"While these designs may not appear everywhere overnight and are more likely to be a slow burn, they set a strong benchmark for what's possible when it comes to low-rise development."
A NSW Productivity and Equality Commission report released in 2024 made several recommendations to boost housing supply, including zoning well-located areas for higher density and cutting apartment design requirements.
One of the government's signature planning policies involves the blanket rezoning of land around metro stations and existing transport hubs for higher-density housing.