Last week, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment issued a Ministerial Media Release in relation to the ‘Unblocking Homes Program’.

This program is part of the NSW government’s $2.8b 2022 Housing Package announced as part of the 2022 – 23 NSW Budget to support first home buyers, increase housing supply and deliver more social and affordable housing.

The key takeaways include:

• DPE’s Planning Delivery Unit will work with councils and proponents to help unblock projects stuck in the planning system.
• DPE will support councils with expertise and resources to help them finalise decisions on large and complex rezonings and DAs that lead to significantly increased housing supply.
• DPE will help councils in Greater Sydney develop local housing strategies to realise their housing supply goals.
• DPE will grant funding via the Faster Local Assessment Grant Program to help support 14 high-growth councils across the State to speed up DAs and planning proposal assessments.
• DPE will work with regional councils to fill gaps in strategic planning that can help unlock the supply of new housing.