Latest news with #housingreforms
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Judy, 89, worked hard all her life and lives in one of Australia's richest suburbs. She has launched a stunning bid to stop new homes being built nearby - and Gen Z is FURIOUS
An 89-year-old resident of one Sydney 's most exclusive areas has sparked controversy by launching a landmark legal challenge against the construction of high-rise apartment buildings in her suburb. Judith Pearson, who has lived near Balmoral Beach in Mosman for over three decades, is challenging the NSW Government's sweeping new housing reforms as a private citizen in court. The state government is trying to encourage the construction of housing in the Harbour City with a policy known as the Low and Mid-Rise Housing SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy). The SEPP overrides local council planning controls and removes their ability to assess developments on a case-by-case basis. Mosman - one of the wealthiest suburbs in Australia, with a median weekly family income of $4,500 - has been given a relatively modest target of constructing 500 new homes by 2029, compared to Ryde's 11,600 and North Sydney's 5,900. Even the posh eastern suburbs council of Woollahra is taking on more than three times the number of homes than Mosman, with 1,900 new builds - but that hasn't stopped Pearson from taking drastic action. Pearson, an accountant who says she supports the need for more housing, argues the reforms enforce a 'one-size-fits-all' model that strips councils and communities of their ability to shape local development and protect heritage-listed homes. 'I couldn't just stand by and watch the value and character of what makes the area special being destroyed,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'I thought somebody has got to stop this.' 'Someone asked me if (the court challenge) is about being 'entitled' and my reply to that was: 'Yes, we are entitled because we've worked hard to live here'. I am entitled to live here'," she told the Herald. The Daily Mail took to the streets to ask locals how they really feel about high-density builds popping up in their suburb. Amanda, a young professional currently hunting for a rental in the area, said she supported new planning rules if it helped to improve housing supply. 'If it helps people break into the market, that'd be better, and make it easier to live around here,' she said. 'At the moment, it's pretty restricted.' Former Sydney University student Tom, who grew up on the city's northern beaches and north shore, slammed Ms Pearson's legal bid as 'entitled and selfish'. 'There are lots of people who have grown up around this area and have dreams of owning a place where they grew up someday,' he said. 'If you look at places in Auckland, it's very clear that building more homes makes rents cheaper and homeownership possible for people my age.' But not everyone agrees, with Virginia, a baby boomer, arguing building high-rise buildings would damage the character of the suburb. 'Three or four storeys max, but nothing more than four,' she said. Her friend Gabriel agreed. 'Four to six is too high. Six is way too much for this area,' she said. Titia said the government should reconsider height allowances. 'It's not good. There should be a regulated height limit,' she said. Housing advocate group Sydney YIMBY was scathing of the legal challenge. 'Sydney YIMBY calls upon Pearson to donate her $500,000 to a homelessness charity instead of fighting homes for people who weren't lucky enough to buy in for pennies 40 years ago,' Chairman Justin Simon told the Daily Mail. 'Mosman is one of the richest, highest demand areas in the country and it's an absolute joke that they only have to deliver 100 homes a year. We hope this draws attention to the matter and the next target is 10x higher.' Only two development applications have been lodged with the Mosman Council under the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy. One of the proposals is for a four-storey build on Muston Street, Ms Pearson's street, which would feature four spacious three-bedroom residences. The second is for a larger six-storey development on nearby Awaba Street, which if built would comprise 29 units. On Tuesday, Mosman Council voted to hold an urgent meeting with Ms Pearson, her legal team and community supporters, to discuss the case and consider whether the suburb should formulate its own strategic housing plan. The motion was moved by Mosman councillor Simon Menzies, who has been contacted by Daily Mail for further comment. Supporters of Ms Pearson's campaign point to Kuring-Gai Council, where the SEPP was paused to allow for a localised planning approach. They argue Mosman should be afforded the same opportunity. In a surprising twist, it can be revealed Ms Pearson is no stranger to luxury property development and previously worked with four business associates to acquire land to build high-end homes. The group's first development, completed in 2006, reportedly sold for $5.4million, according to a 2008 article by the Australian Financial Review. A second property was expected to fetch around $12million.
Washington Post
30-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
How Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren agreed on a sweeping housing package
A sweeping package of housing reforms is gaining rare bipartisan support in the Senate, raising hopes that Congress might be able to pass legislation that would incentivize local governments and private developers to build more homes. After the unlikely duo of Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) teamed up to write the measure, it passed unanimously out of the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday — unusual in a Senate sharply divided along partisan lines.
