The New South Wales Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 has passed both houses of State Parliament, modernising the foundational legislation of the state’s housing, jobs, infrastructure, and energy delivery.
The passage of the bill marks the most significant overhaul of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 in a generation.
The New South Wales Government believes these reforms will help clear the bottlenecks and make the system work for communities, councils, and builders alike.
The Bill introduces a suite of changes to streamline planning approvals, provide greater certainty for industry and communities, and cut unnecessary red tape.
Key reforms include establishing a Development Coordination Authority to provide advice on major projects across New South Wales government agencies and enshrining the Housing Delivery Authority in legislation to make sure there is an enduring, state-wide focus on housing delivery.
These also included expanding Complying Development pathways to enable faster approvals for low-impact development and introducing a new Targeted Assessment Pathway for developments already subject to strategic planning and community consultation.
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The government will amend the EP&A Act’s objects to include housing delivery, climate resilience and proportionality and replace more than 100 consultation plans with a single, state-wide Community Participation Plan.
The government will now work with industry, local Government and professional bodies on the implementation of the reforms.
Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales said, the Bill’s passage represents a major step forward for New South Wales housing and planning reform.
“For too long, New South Wales has been held back by a system that was slow, complex and out of step with the necessity to deliver more homes for those who need them,” said Minns.
“These reforms will help us build more homes faster, in the right places, giving young people and families the chance to access a home.”
For more information, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/
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