Architect anger, developer delight at planning backflip

NSW architects have slammed the state government’s backflip on proposals to compel developers to include sustainable elements in new designs and steer clear of flood and bush-fire susceptible areas, labelling it “high-risk for the environment and communities, and ruinous for risk-management.”

But developers’ lobby group Urban Taskforce has welcomed the U-turn, saying it was a clear sign that Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts was “serious about cutting red tape and driving efficiency through the NSW planning process.” 

Minister Roberts confirmed that the government will not introduce the State Environmental Planning Policy for Design and Place during a speech at an event for Urban Taskforce Australia, a group representing prominent property developers and investors.

The SEPP guidelines were wide-ranging in their scope and were intended to improve planning systems to enhance design and place for quality of life, biodiversity and conservation, and resilience and hazard reduction.

Meanwhile their authors also set out to maintain corridors for transport and infrastructure, housing, industry and employment, resources and energy, and primary production.

The NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects immediately condemned their scrapping, with a spokeswoman saying the decision was a significant backward step as the state reeled from natural disasters.

“The planning policy and guidelines were a positive move towards a more sustainable, affordable and resilient future for the built environment,” she said.

“To downgrade these sensible policies now is a slap in the face for our communities, especially those recovering from extreme weather.

“We know the science tells us these events will become more common and more severe. To scale back these practical requirements for sustainability and liveability is unfathomable.”

The response to the announcement from developers lobby group Urban Taskforce could not have been more contradictory.

“The decision not to proceed with the draft SEPP is a clear sign that the new Minister for Planning is serious about cutting red tape and driving efficiency through the NSW planning process,” said Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest. 

“The draft Design and Place SEPP was placed on public exhibition and drew unanimous criticism from industry.  The Minister has listened and acted.  This is great news for housing supply and for affordability.

“The changes proposed in the draft SEPP for the Apartment Design Guide and the new Urban Design guide would have added to the cost of delivery of new homes without improving the design quality of those new homes,” he added.

“Today’s decision is in line with the recommendations of the NSW Productivity Commission White Paper which called for faster approval times and reductions in planning red tape.

“This is a sensible compromise which will deliver on the government’s commitment to sustainability and to achieve “net zero greenhouse gas emissions” by 2050, while removing the highly prescriptive elements on design that were in the proposed new Apartment Design Guide and Urban Design Guides”, Mr Forrest said.

However architects are astounded that the government would abandon a well-considered proposal that was shephereded into place by the previous Planining Minister Rob Stokes.

“In removing these guidelines, the government has chosen not to support sustainable, resilient places and good design,” The Institute or Architects spokeswoman said.

“We cannot understand how the government can support this position. These moves are purely short-term and will be to the detriment of our future cities.”

The Minister announced that the Apartment Design Guidelines and SEPP 65 will remain in place as they currently stand.

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