NSW Department of Planning
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Housing policies

It is our aim that all people in New South Wales, including older people, people with disabilities and those on low incomes have access to affordable and well designed housing.

Housing for seniors and people with disabilities

Background

Since 1982, the NSW Government has met the ongoing challenge of providing sufficient housing for seniors and people with a disability through a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP 5).

In March 2004, the Department replaced SEPP 5 (the planning policy that previously dealt with housing for older people and people with a disability) with a new policy focused on balancing growing demand for accommodation with maintaining the character and feel of local neighbourhoods - State Environmental Planning Policy (Senior Living) 2004.

In December 2005, Planning Minister Frank Sartor announced a moratorium on new self-care retirement developments on land adjoining urban land. At the same time, the Minister announced a review of the Seniors Living SEPP would be undertaken by the Department. After the exhibition of proposed changes to the policy in May and June 2007 and consideration of public submissions, Amendment No. 2 was gazetted on 28 September 2007, with changes commencing 12 October 2007. The name of the policy has also changed and is now called State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004.

Current Seniors Housing SEPP

The current policy and supporting documents are:

Helping to retain low cost rental accommodation

State Environmental Planning Policy No. 10 (SEPP 10) aims to retain the stock of low cost rental accommodation available in the Greater Metropolitan Region of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Development applications under SEPP 10

Development applications under SEPP 10 are lodged with the local council and referred to the Department for concurrence. Under the policy there are a number of criteria that need to be met before development of a low-rent residential property is permitted. One of the criteria that must be considered is whether there is sufficient comparable accommodation in the locality to satisfy demand [clause 7(4)(b)].

Affordable housing schemes

State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) No. 70 – Affordable Housing (Revised Schemes) allows existing schemes to continue that would otherwise have expired.



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