New homes in key growth areas will be built quicker and approvals fast-tracked, announced by the State Government this morning.
South Australians building in greenfield areas will no longer require planning approval for new homes, allowing compliant builds meeting basic requirements to bypass the separate planning consent process through councils and associated cost.
The greenfield land supply is located in the Outer North, Outer South, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu, Murray Bridge, and the Northern Plains and Barossa regions.
The government says in master planned communities, prospective homeowners can expect a more direct route to building assessment due to a simpler, faster and more affordable approval process, helping South Australians own their own home sooner and reducing red tape.
The changes, which will be enacted as part of the Government’s A Better Housing Future plan, set out minimum planning requirements for new homes to be assessed as ‘accepted development.’
The requirements include only one dwelling on the allotment, minimum building setbacks, maximum building height of 2 levels or 9 metres, minimum design, appearance and site services, minimum car parking and appropriate vehicle access and appropriate connection to water supply and wastewater removal.
These requirements are easily assessable by a building certifier, enabling these basic planning matters to be considered at the building consent stage, rather than an earlier planning consent process which can take weeks.
Building consent and final development approval will still be required to ensure new homes developed in greenfield ‘Master Planned Neighbourhood’ and ‘Master Planned Township’ zones are safe and meet standards.
It’s important to note these changes are exclusive to greenfield areas and do not extend to established suburbs or infill regions, as a greater level of design is needed to integrate a new house into an existing streetscape.
The new framework builds on the fast tracking of the single largest residential land release in the State’s history, set to deliver over 25,000 more homes.
The state government is delivering a $474.4 million housing package to boost supply and affordability, including abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers of new homes up to $650,000 to get more South Australians into affordable homes.
“The housing crisis we are in requires urgent action and removing red tape where appropriate,” South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says.
“These immediate changes allow South Australians to realise their dream of home ownership sooner and cuts down the lengthy approval process involved. This gives confidence to new homebuyers and industry that we are increasing supply in key growth areas as quickly as possible, with planning safeguards in place.”
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion says fast-tracking new homes in master planned communities will deliver a quicker critical housing boost desperately needed across the State.
“A more streamlined and efficient planning system means better outcomes for South Australians wanting to build their own home – easing pressure on a tight market,” Minister Champion says.
“As we unlock vital supply through a record land release, our Government wants to remove barriers for new homebuyers while ensuring long-term planning requirements are met.”
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