Plan to build more Sydney homes near train stations is ‘imminent’

afr.com:

New rules that could bypass anti-development councils are likely to be considered by the NSW cabinet soon, although how they would work is unclear, according to the state’s property development lobby group.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that the government was working on a plan for seven “priority development zones” around Sydney Metro train stations. The zones could supersede local planning rules, allowing bigger apartment buildings to be built than permitted now.

An artist’s impression of the Waterloo South redevelopment in Sydney, which will have a Metro train station. 

Spokespeople for Premier Chris Minns and Planning Minister Paul Scully declined to comment on the article.

Mr Minns, who was elected premier in March, has promised to increase the density of Sydney housing to help restrain or reduce the cost of housing. The average Sydney home is worth $1.1 million, according to CoreLogic.

Tom Forrest, the chief executive of lobby developer group Urban Taskforce Australia, said the Department of Planning was working on the plan, but it was unclear what rules would apply in the zones. Councils could be asked to enforce state regulations, he said.

“Our greatest fear is they would go with too few precincts,” Mr Forrest said. “I would say it is imminent. That’s why you’re getting leaks.”

The Herald reported the government plans to encourage more apartments and townhouses up to 1.2 kilometres from the centre of the precincts. Land could be rezoned at the same time owners request approval to build, instead of having to go through the processes sequentially.

NSW Premier Chris Minns at a Sydney train station in August.  Nick Moir

Some councils are likely to complain changing the rules would be unfair to