A new planning policy for New South Wales that prioritizes walkable neighbourhoods, housing diversity and thermal performance has been welcomed by the Australian Institute of Architects but slammed by developer and property groups.
The new Design and Place State Environmental Planning Policy, now on public exhibition, is being described by the government as the state’s first comprehensive design policy. It has been designed to deliver greater housing diversity and choice, while ensuring that dwellings have adequate sunlight, more storage and usable balconies. It calls for more, better quality parks, as well as greater permeability in new subdivisions to make walking and cycling easier.
It also requires new commercial buildings to operate at net zero emissions “from day one,” as was signposted by planning minister Rob Stokes in November.
The president of the NSW chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, Laura Cockburn, said communities across the state would benefit from the proposed updates.
“It is imperative that the planning and design of cities and towns evolves to address the challenges of climate change, as well as social and cultural divides, if we are to ensure a high quality, sustainable built environment legacy for future generations,” she said.
“People’s basic rights to access sunlight, ventilation, privacy and open space must be protected and placing good design at the heart of the planning process will significantly improve outcomes for our communities. The Institute supports planning policy which enables community input in shaping the future of places, delivers certainty for investors and the resulting confidence in the system.”
The policy has been months in development, with the government consulting with industry, local government and environmental groups, and the Institute. In a submission made as part of the development of the policy, the Institute called for planning controls that protect solar access, cross-ventilation, privacy and access to open space; strengthen the role of BASIX; increase sustainability targets; focus on connection with Country; and demonstrate clear and consistent design principles in development applications.
“We welcomed the opportunity to work alongside government in the development of the Design and Place SEPP and strongly endorse what it aims to achieve,” said Cockburn.
NSW government architect Abbie Galvin said proposed changes to the Apartment Design Guide and Urban Design Guide aimed to respond to changing needs.
“During the pandemic we’ve seen our homes and apartments become schools, offices and gyms, and many of us have enjoyed walking or cycling more in our neighbourhoods. This timely policy seeks to reflect our new way of living,” she said.
“There’ll be quality apartments with outdoor space and plenty of room for growing families and friends. There’ll be quality streets, public spaces and neighbourhoods that are cool and connected. Places where people love to live.”
Planning minister Stokes said principles-based policy was an important step in defining what matters in planning. “This policy will allow designers to think outside the box and support innovation and creativity when building new homes, suburbs and cities,” he said. “Great places aren’t always the product of rules and regulation, they are the result of place-based design that puts communities at their heart.”
Property developers’ organizations Urban Taskforce and the Property Council have been less than glowing in their assessments, however, claiming that the policy will act as a break on investment.
“There are lots of pressures on costs at the moment and the last thing we need is a utopian SEPP designed by architects that further bumps out the costs of delivery at a time when we can least afford it,” Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest said, according to The Urban Developer.
The draft Design and Place State Environmental Planning Policy is on exhibit until 28 February 2022.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
