Planning FAQ's

As part of the Department of Planning and Environment’s Planning Reform Action Plan consideration is being given to speeding up the process for rezoning. The proposals were outlined in the discussion paper A new approach to rezoning, which was exhibited for comment from December 2021 to February 2022.

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The NSW Government is proposing reforms to the system of infrastructure contributions in NSW. An Infrastructure Contributions Bill was introduced to the NSW Parliament in June 2021. Proposed amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation, policy instruments and practice notes were exhibited until 10 December 2021.

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The NSW government is introducing a new framework for employment zones across NSW. This involves a comprehensive reform of existing industrial and business zones. An Amendment Order to the Standard Instrument was published on 5 November and will commence on 1 December 2021. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will work with councils to transition to the new zones during 2022.

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The NSW Government has amended State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP) to support economic recovery. The amendments include changes to complying development for retail, commercial and industrial uses. Further changes to support new data centres and community recycling will be considered in 2022. 

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The NSW Government exhibited the draft Design and Place SEPP from December 2021 to February 2022. In April 2022 the NSW Government announced that the Design and Place SEPP will not be made.

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The NSW Government established a Regional Housing Taskforce in July 2021 to investigate regional housing issues and challenges and planning system barriers preventing the delivering of housing supply. A Regional Housing Fund, a $30 million grant program to incentivise and support regional councils to respond to growing housing pressure, was set up as an initial response in February 2022. The NSW Government will release a comprehensive response to the Taskforce recommendations in 2022.

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