The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Untitled design (8)
25 DAYS UNTIL OUR UNMISSABLE FLAGSHIP CONFERENCE 29-31 JULY, GOLD COAST
25 DAYS UNTIL OUR FLAGSHIP CONFERENCE 29-31 JULY, GOLD COAST
SECURE YOUR SPOTDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
1
print
Print
OfficeTaryn ParisThu 17 Mar 22

NSW Minister Tears Up Predecessor’s Planning Principles

Just months into the job, the newly minted New South Wales Planning Minister Anthony Roberts has torn up the nine guiding principles mooted by his predecessor Rob Stokes.
 
Stokes drew fire when he introduced the changes as he walked out the door of the Planning Office to take up the reins at Infrastructure, Cities and Public Transport late last year. 
 
At the time, Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest described it as Rob Stokes “throwing confetti over his shoulder as he walks out the door” and slammed his planning principles as “utopian”.
 
Roberts has vowed to cut red tape, address the state’s housing supply crisis, and end “policy fatigue” weighing down the system.
 
The move to revoke the planning regime has received industry support from the such bodies as the UDIA and Urban Taskforce, but not everyone is a fan. 
 
The NSW chapters of the Australian Insititute of Architects and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects have condemned the backflip, saying it would overturn sustainable planning principles. 
 
AIA NSW president Laura Cockburn said it was a counterproductive decision from the NSW planning mininster. 
 
“In the midst of our current flood and housing crises, why would a government choose to remove planning principles aimed at disaster resilience, and delivering affordable housing?” she said.

“This is a short-sighted decision that could have enduring negative impacts.

“Having a robust planning framework ensures our communities can thrive and grow with certainty.

“Constant changes from government will do nothing for community and business confidence, and will likely reduce the investment in affordable housing the minister says this backflip is aimed at.”

Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest applauded the swift change.
 
“This is a clear sign that the new minister is serious about delivering faster decisions and more homes rather than the ivory tower approach taken by the former minister, which was performing so poorly,” Forrest said.
 
“Minister Roberts has sent a clear message that he is serious about boosting housing supply. His decision to revoke the Ministerial Direction giving effect to the former minister’s Planning Principles explicitly states that any planning principles must help the delivery of more homes and the proposed principles by former minister Stokes were clearly not helping that cause.
 
“Planners were confused. Lawyers were aghast. Developers were exasperated. It is great to see this unwelcome initiative abandoned.”
 

ResidentialAustraliaPlanningPlanningSector
AUTHOR
Taryn Paris
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Exclusive

Carparking Correlation: How Parking Fees Provide Office Sector Health Check

Taryn Paris
6 Min
Molti chief Ben Teague out front of 32 Mercer Road Aramadale (rendering)
Exclusive

Buy to the Sound of Cannons: Molti’s Counter-Cyclical Move to Melbourne

Leon Della Bosca
5 Min
Exclusive

Tapping the Bunnings ‘Halo Effect’

Taryn Paris
5 Min
Exclusive

‘Construction Not a Scale Game’: Hutchinson

Phil Bartsch
9 Min
Nation's build-to-rent project Charlie Parker in Sydney's Parramatta where more projects are being located and built outside the CBD.
Exclusive

Foreign Capital Still Dominates BtR but Things are Changing

Marisa Wikramanayake
7 Min
View All >
Exclusive

Carparking Correlation: How Parking Fees Provide Office Sector Health Check

Taryn Paris
The construction site which will one day become Newcastle Tallest Tower by Urban Property Group
Residential

Urban Property Group Reveals Newcastle Tallest Tower Plan

Renee McKeown
the four concept towers approved for sydney metro's parramatta precinct
Development

Rush of Approvals Sends Parramatta Skywards

Renee McKeown
Two projects of six towers, including a 47-storey build-to-rent scheme, have moved ahead as Sydney’s second CBD grows up…
LATEST
Exclusive

Carparking Correlation: How Parking Fees Provide Office Sector Health Check

Taryn Paris
6 Min
The construction site which will one day become Newcastle Tallest Tower by Urban Property Group
Residential

Urban Property Group Reveals Newcastle Tallest Tower Plan

Renee McKeown
3 Min
the four concept towers approved for sydney metro's parramatta precinct
Development

Rush of Approvals Sends Parramatta Skywards

Renee McKeown
2 Min
Bunnings Clyde North
Markets

Bunnings Sold On as Charter Hall Doubles Down on Retail

Leon Della Bosca
2 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/industry-welcomes-nsw-planning-backflip