- 4 steps to acquiring a Construction Certificate and Development Application approval in Sydney
- How to achieve a cost-effective building design
- Draft Local Environmental Plan now on exhibition for the City of Parramatta Council
- Changes to Home Building Act now in effect
- New Housing Diversity SEPP to hinder build-to-rent and seniors housing developments
- Update on developer contributions
- Low Rise Housing Diversity Code now operating in all NSW local government areas
- NCC 2019 Amendment 1 has taken effect!
- The Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 (NSW)
- Changes to what is deemed "physical commencement"
- COVID-19 buys time on DA process
- Alternative assessment introduced for large boarding houses
- Draft Design and Building Practitioners Bill 2019
- Canterbury LEP changes to Boarding Houses
- The Low Rise Medium Density Housing Code (MDHC) has been deferred again
- Changes to Certifiers' compliance powers and new provisions for CC's and OC's
- The Low Rise Medium Density Housing Code has been deferred
- NCC 2019 has taken effect!
- The introduction of the Options Paper - ‘Improving Certifier Independence’
- NSW Combustible Cladding Regulation
- IHAPS to be introduced for all Sydney Councils
- New simplified housing code
- BASIX energy targets to change
- Guide to building tolerances is released
- General Housing Code changes
- Introduction of the Inland Housing Code for Complying Development
- Complying development for dual occupancies and townhouses
- Positive changes to Home Building Compensation Fund
- New online planning tools
- BCA 2015
- Swimming Pools are now required to be registered
- NSW Government releases green paper
- BASIX Certificates are no longer free
- SEPP (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009 Amendment 2011
COVID-19 buys time on DA process - 14 May, 2020
COVID-19 buys time on DA process
Developers and landowners can breathe a sigh of relief as NSW Parliament introduces new amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EPA Act) that aim to alleviate time pressures in the construction industry. The changes which came into effect on 14 May 2020 are part of a wider all-encompassing legislation that introduces emergency measures to help anticipate and/or recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For developers and landowners, there are 3 notable changes to the EPA Act:
1. Existing Development Consents extended by 2 years
If a development consent or deferred commencement consent was issued before 25 March 2020 and did not lapse before or on 14 May 2020, it will be extended for a further 2 years from its original expiry date. This means that many development consents will now have a commencement period of 7 years. For development consents granted after 25 March 2020 and up until 25 March 2022, a minimum period of 5 years is now also applicable.
2. Appeal Rights extended by 6 months
Any development application (DA) or modification that has been or will become subject to determination or refusal between 25 September 2019 and 25 March 2022 will have an additional 6 months from the determination or refusal to appeal it. This will give developers and landowners 12 months to revisit and resolve any issues with their DA application to increase the likelihood of its approval.
3. Existing Use Rights extended by 2 years
Additionally, for the period between 25 March 2020 and 25 March 2022, an existing use right will only be considered abandoned after 3 years, an extension on the standard 12-month period.
How do these changes affect you?
The changes to the EPA Act should be a welcome financial relief for developers and landowners and with time now on your side, it’s important to weigh up your options, including making the decision to proceed with or appeal a development consent, or suspending your plans all together.
- 4 steps to acquiring a Construction Certificate and Development Application approval in Sydney - 2 Feb, 2021
- How to achieve a cost-effective building design - 27 Jan, 2021
- Draft Local Environmental Plan now on exhibition for the City of Parramatta Council - 2 Sep, 2020
- Changes to Home Building Act now in effect - 31 Aug, 2020
- New Housing Diversity SEPP to hinder build-to-rent and seniors housing developments - 24 Aug, 2020
- Update on developer contributions - 22 Jul, 2020
- Low Rise Housing Diversity Code now operating in all NSW local government areas - 1 Jul, 2020
- NCC 2019 Amendment 1 has taken effect! - 1 Jul, 2020
- The Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 (NSW) - 10 Jun, 2020
- Changes to what is deemed "physical commencement" - 15 May, 2020