To accelerate housing delivery, the Department has introduced a design competition exemption pathway for projects declared state significant developments (SSDs), based on recommendations from the Housing Delivery Authority.
For projects given exemption, design competitions will be replaced with an alternative design excellence pathway.
Applicants for this pathway must prepare a Design Excellence Strategy, which requires endorsement from the Government Architect NSW.
Further information about the new pathway can be found in the Housing Delivery Authority’s Design Competition Exemption Pathway (PDF, 134 KB) and the Alternative Design Excellence Strategy Guidelines (PDF, 186 KB).
The requirements for applicants are similar to those outlined in the Transport Oriented Development Accelerated Precincts design competition exemption pathway.
This is part of our work to get people into homes faster, where they want to live, and in the communities they choose.
Frequently asked questions
You may request a design competition exemption for residential or mixed-use developments involving housing that have been declared a state significant development by the Minister, following advice from the Housing Delivery Authority.
You can request a design competition exemption by emailing Government Architect NSW at [email protected]. We recommend making the request as early as possible.
The written request must address the criteria outlined in the Housing Delivery Authority: Design Excellence Competition Exemption Pathway (PDF, 134 KB).
A single architectural firm can only be nominated to design a maximum of 2 buildings. To ensure architectural diversity, you should nominate additional collaborating architects that meet the criteria for any additional buildings. Your request should provide sufficient information to help Government Architect NSW provide a clear response.
No. If your project has 2 or more buildings that share a common basement, each will be considered as a separate building.
No. Each nominated architect can design a maximum of 2 towers above a shared podium.
Government Architect NSW will respond to your written request for a design competition exemption within 21 calendar days.
All requests that meet the criteria will be accepted. If your request is rejected, you will receive a letter explaining the reason. You can reapply by addressing the issues identified in the letter.
To submit an application for review by the State Design Review Panel, log into or register for a NSW Planning Portal account and follow the State Design Review Panel applicant resource guides.
Submit your State Design Review Panel application at the same time as your request for a design competition exemption. The State Design Review Panel will not undertake a review until the exemption is granted.
A fee will be payable once each design review session has been held.
For more information, go to NSW State Design Review Panel.
Refer to both the Housing Delivery Authority: Design Excellence Competition Exemption Pathway (PDF, 134 KB) and the Design Review Panel's Terms of Reference (PDF, 156 KB) for a state significant development design competition exemption when preparing your Alternative Design Excellence Strategy. Once Government Architect NSW endorses your strategy, your consultant can start arranging the design review.
Design excellence refers to the highest standard of architectural, urban, and landscape design. NSW environmental planning instruments, like Local Environmental Plans or state policies, may require projects to demonstrate this standard.
Design excellence is both a process and an outcome. Often, a competitive design process is required to demonstrate design excellence. This process involves a design competition, held in accordance with the Design Competition Guidelines published by the Department in September 2023.
Resources
- Housing Delivery Authority: Design Excellence Competition Exemption Pathway (PDF, 134 KB)
- Housing Delivery Authority: Alternative Design Excellence Strategy Guidelines (PDF, 186 KB)
- Design Review Panel for a State Significant Development Design Competition Exemption (PDF, 156 KB)
- Design Competition Guidelines