Latest news with #PaulScully
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Callan Park's crumbling buildings slated for demolition
Crumbling buildings at Callan Park in Sydney's inner west will be demolished to make way for more green space, amid community concerns about a proposed legal tweak that would allow commercial activities on the parklands. The NSW government will spend $4.8 million knocking down nine condemned buildings at the heart of the park over the next two years, freeing up 1.6 hectares of land for recreation. The government is eager to bulldoze the dilapidated structures, which it has labelled an 'eyesore' as well as safety hazards and targets for vandals. 'Callan Park is a jewel in the crown of the inner west, but these nine buildings have been left to deteriorate beyond repair, becoming a stain on the park's reputation,' Planning Minister Paul Scully said. But while the planned demolition is overwhelmingly supported by the community, it comes as a parliamentary committee in June put forward controversial recommendations to change laws restricting commercial use of the park. Under the Callan Park Act, venues such as cafes and restaurants cannot operate unless they are run by not-for-profits. Balmain Greens MP Kobi Shetty said any moves to wind back the Act's protections were 'of grave concern'. 'Time after time our community has had to fend off attempts to sell Callan Park to developers and other private interests,' she said.
The Age
a day ago
- Business
- The Age
Callan Park's crumbling buildings slated for demolition
Crumbling buildings at Callan Park in Sydney's inner west will be demolished to make way for more green space, amid community concerns about a proposed legal tweak that would allow commercial activities on the parklands. The NSW government will spend $4.8 million knocking down nine condemned buildings at the heart of the park over the next two years, freeing up 1.6 hectares of land for recreation. The government is eager to bulldoze the dilapidated structures, which it has labelled an 'eyesore' as well as safety hazards and targets for vandals. 'Callan Park is a jewel in the crown of the inner west, but these nine buildings have been left to deteriorate beyond repair, becoming a stain on the park's reputation,' Planning Minister Paul Scully said. But while the planned demolition is overwhelmingly supported by the community, it comes as a parliamentary committee in June put forward controversial recommendations to change laws restricting commercial use of the park. Under the Callan Park Act, venues such as cafes and restaurants cannot operate unless they are run by not-for-profits. Balmain Greens MP Kobi Shetty said any moves to wind back the Act's protections were 'of grave concern'. 'Time after time our community has had to fend off attempts to sell Callan Park to developers and other private interests,' she said.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
$1 homes set to change Sydney landscape
The Minns Government has launched a 'pattern book' of pre-approved house designs intended to provide an accelerated pathway for the approval of new low-rise houses. Homes built following the eights designs in the pattern book will only take 10 days to get approval and will bypass much of the council red tape that's contributed to significant housing backlogs. The designs range from terraces, townhouses and manor homes and will cost $1,000 to use, but the NSW government has promised to charge just $1 for those using the designs over the first six months of the program. A media release announcing the designs revealed that these charges will help those building new homes bypass an estimated $20,000 in fees for custom architecture. The announcement follows the launch of an international pattern book design competition in 2024, with the state government endorsing eight designs for families, young people and downsizers. NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister of Planning Spaces Paul Scully revealed that the designs were aimed at accelerating the development of affordable and sustainable housing. Each design will be adaptable for different family sizes and housing needs, including different room formations and layout. The government claimed in the release that this would help create vibrant diverse communities. Each design purchase will come with a complimentary Landscape Pattern to help new homeowners design gardens. '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,' Mr Minns stated in the release. 'This is a practical step to make the housing system fairer – and make sure NSW remains a place where the next generation can live and thrive.' The delivery of homes through the pattern book is further supported by the Minns Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms aimed to make terraces, townhouses and manor houses broadly permissible across NSW.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Pattern book' house plans could be approved in 10 days
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 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.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
NSW pattern book launches with housing designs available for just $1
For the humble price of just $1, home owners will be able to use one of the state government's new housing designs when building their properties. On Wednesday, the government launched the NSW Housing Pattern Book of low-rise designs, with eight options on offer for the public to use. Low-rise housing refers to one to two storey dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses and manor house apartments — not including freestanding houses. Each pre-approved pattern includes an accelerated planning pathway and the technical information necessary for bringing one of these designs to life. It's all in the aim of speeding up the delivery of new homes in NSW via affordable, easy to build and sustainable designs, said Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully. "They look great, they're simple and cost-effective. We're accelerating these designs so those wishing to build can get moving," he said. "The NSW Housing Pattern Book takes the guesswork and the delay out of home building." Sydney, Newcastle, Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo have a long history with pattern books, with modern-day designs now focused on densifying suburbs practically while keeping an aesthetic vision. Some of the architects whose designs now feature in the pattern book are based in Summer Hill, Sydney CBD and Newtown. In a significant subsidy, the state government confirmed each of the low-rise designs will be available to purchase for just $1 for the next six months. "This is a practical step to make the housing system fairer — and make sure NSW remains a place where the next generation can afford to live and thrive," Premier Chris Minns said. Once the discounted price time frame ends, it will move to $1,000 per pattern. It's a stark difference to the estimated $20,000 average cost of architecturally designed homes that builders and home owners usually pay for custom designs. Some architects in NSW had previously shared their concerns over the "cookie cutter approach" and the impact it could have on architectural creativity and opportunities. In response, Mr Scully said the government "won't sacrifice quality for quantity". "The NSW Housing Pattern Book brings together some of the best architects in NSW. And those designs will mean more young people, families and downsizers can access a home, and we don't apologise for that," he said. The scheme and its patterns have also been endorsed by the office of the Government Architect NSW. "I am excited to be able to share these patterns that can be used by the development industry, architects, planners, councils and communities," Government Architect NSW's Abbie Galvin said. Earlier this year, the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy introduced planning controls to encourage dual occupancies, terraces and townhouses in regions like Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle and Illawarra. Additional designs for mid-rise housing will be launched later in the year.
