The Department is speeding up the assessment of housing applications under the State Significant Development (SSD) pathways. The aim is to complete assessments within an average of 275 end-to-end days from the time an application is lodged to when a determination is made or referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) or Minister for Planning. Of the 275 days, an average target of 90 government days will apply, which includes exhibition.
The Guide to Faster Assessments for SSD Housing Applications (PDF, 466 KB) outlines how the Department will work with applicants to speed up the assessment of housing applications lodged under State significant development pathways.
First released in December 2023, the guide only applied to the in-fill affordable housing State Significant Development pathway. It was updated in August 2024 to include applications lodged by certain public authorities under section 26 of the Planning System State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).
Faster housing dashboard
The faster housing dashboard tracks how long the Department takes to complete its assessments of applicable faster housing SSD applications.
Data as at 31 July 2025.
Determined projects
Active projects
| Term | Definition | Data Source | Legislation/Policy Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faster Housing SSD Applications | These are SSD applications that fall under the Faster SSD Assessment program and include:
| DPHI Assessment Practice and Procedures | Faster assessments for State significant development housing applications |
| Approved Applications | Faster Housing SSD Applications that have been determined and approved, excluding modifications. | DPHI Assessment Practice and Procedures | |
| Number of approved dwellings and approved affordable dwellings | The total count of dwellings and affordable dwellings, that have been granted approval through Approved Applications. | ||
| Performance against 275 day KPI: 6 month rolling average | Sum of end-to-end calendar days for Approved Applications divided by the count of Approved Applications determined in the preceding 6-month period. End to end days are calculated as follows:
This KPI is calculated up to the latest completed month. | DPHI Assessment Practice and Procedures | Guide to Faster Assessments for SSD Housing Applications (PDF, 466 KB) |
| Performance against 90 day KPI: 6 month rolling average | Sum of calendar days for government stages for Approved Applications divided by the count of Approved Applications determined in the preceding 6-month period. The 90-days are calculated as follows:
This KPI is calculated up to the latest month completed. | DPHI Assessment Practice and Procedures | |
| Active Applications | Faster Housing SSD applications where Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) have been issued and the application has not been determined. These can be at different stages within the assessment process such as exhibition and response to submissions. | DPHI Assessment Practice and Procedures | |
| Potential dwellings and potential affordable dwellings | Total count of dwellings and affordable dwellings proposed in Active Applications. |
Refined guide
In August 2025, we expanded the guide to include more State Significant Development housing pathways and to reflect recent changes to assessment policies and practices.
The guide now applies to:
- In-fill affordable housing (Schedule 1, section 26A of the Planning Systems State Environmental Planning Policy (Planning Systems SEPP)).
- Housing development carried out by certain public authorities (Schedule 1, section 26 of the Planning Systems SEPP).
- Build-to-rent housing (Schedule 1 section 27 of the Planning Systems SEPP).
- Seniors housing (Schedule 1 section 28 of the Planning Systems SEPP).
- Development in accelerated Transport Oriented Developments precincts (Schedule 2 section 19 of the Planning Systems SEPP).
- Housing Delivery Authority projects (residential development declared State Significant Development under section 4.36(3) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, following advice from the Housing Delivery Authority).
In addition, the refinements include:
- Clarified minor process differences for applicants using the Housing Delivery Authority pathway or lodging a concurrent rezoning.
- Refined criteria in which faster assessments apply.
- Confirmation that referrals to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for determination will occur only in limited circumstances.
- Clarification that State Significant Development applications will be exhibited for the minimum period set out in the legislation and in the Department’s Community participation plan.
Faster State Significant Development assessments are supported by dedicated housing assessment teams, industry-specific Secretary's environmental assessment requirements (SEARs), and, in most cases, a mandatory scoping meeting.
Guidance for applicants
A set of State Significant Development guidelines is available to improve assessment guidance and support applicants in preparing a high-quality environmental impact statement and any supplementary documentation.
Guidance on assessing the impacts for a range of issues can be found on the NSW Planning Portal.
Housing-specific guidance
Apartment Design Guide
This guide provides consistent planning and design standards for apartments across NSW. It includes design criteria and general guidance on how development proposals can achieve the nine design quality principles identified in Schedule 9 of the Housing State Environmental Planning Policy.
View the Apartment Design Guide.
Social impact considerations
The industry-specific Secretary's environmental assessment requirements for State significant housing projects require consideration of social impacts within the environmental impact statement. If the impacts are significant, a social impact assessment is needed, in accordance with the Social Impact Assessment Guideline.
For an example of how social impacts might be considered as part of the environmental impact statement for State significant development housing, view the Social Impact Assessment for SSD housing case study available on the NSW Planning Portal.
Contact us
If you are a State significant development applicant and need to arrange an early scoping or scoping meeting, email the relevant contact:
- In-fill affordable housing applications: [email protected]
- Housing Delivery Authority pathway projects: [email protected]
- Build-to-rent, seniors or housing development carried out by public authorities: [email protected]
- Transport Oriented Development precinct projects: [email protected]