Lane Cove Council was infomed by the NSW Department of Planning that their housing target is to be 3,400 new completed homes by 2029. It is not yet confirmed if the homes approved to be developed in the St Leonards South Precinct will contibute to meeting this target.
Further detail on the State targets can be read about here: here
Community Consultation Summary
The NSW Government, Department of Planning and Infrastructure held public consultation from 15 December 2023 to 23 February 2024, on the proposed low-and-mid-rise reforms (the Low-and Mid- Rise SEPP). They received nearly 8,000 submissions, including from 49 Councils. The most common issues raised were concerns about traffic and congestion, the protection of local character and the need for accompanying infrastructure and green spaces.
End of June Annoucement- Dual Occupanices and Low-and mid-rise housing
It was announced at the end of June 2024, and Lane Cove Council informed the Councillors, that the reforms will be done in 2 stages with Stage 1 commencing on the 1 July 2024.
In stage 1 will introduce dual occupancies and semi-detached dwellings to be permitted in all R2 low-density residential zones across NSW. Dual Occupancies are already allowed in Lane Cove on certain allotment sizes and from discussion with the planning team, theuy belive that nothing in so far for Stage 1 will change in our DCP and LEP controls.
In stage 2 (to be announced later in 2024) in addition will update the policy by:
- introduce the concept of ‘station and town centre precincts’ as the basis for ‘well-located areas’, where density will be encouraged and will be identified in the SEPP, and be mapped. An 800m walking distance from the town centre or station will be where the policy will apply.
- expand the permissibility of the other low-and mid-rise housing types as follows:
- Multi-dwelling housing (terraces and townhouses) in station and town centre precincts in zones R1, R2, R3.
- Low-rise apartment buildings in station and town centre precincts in zones R1 and R2.
- Mid-rise apartment buildings in station and town centre precincts in zones R3 and R4.
- facilitate and encourage the above housing types (including for dual occupancies) by introducing new development standards, such as building heights, floor space ratios and minimum lot sizes, within the station and town centre precincts.
- maintain local character and the viability of employment centres by excluding the application of the reforms within the employment/town centres themselves (i.e. the E1, E2, MU1 and SP5 zones) – this maintains detailed strategic planning work many councils have done in these zones and avoids many areas with heritage value.
July Briefing by Departmentof Planning on the Transport Orientated Program (TOD)
Lane Cove Councillors and Staff recieved a briefing from the NSW Department of Planning on 22 July 2024. The information on the progress of developing the plan for the Crows Nest Precinct was explained, also outlined now on the website: here This planning change will effect portions of the St Leonards South area and the St Leonards section which site along the Pacific Highway.
This article was written by Kathy Bryla