For many years, the planning system in NSW has become increasingly complex, slow and expensive. That has held back the delivery of new homes, jobs and infrastructure.
The NSW Parliament has approved the landmark Planning System Reforms Bill 2025, ushering in what many are calling the most significant update in a generation to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).
| Reform element | Description | Implications for practice |
| DCA – new single front-door unit for major projects | The DCA will take over coordination for projects requiring multiple agency approvals, reducing duplication. | Consultants and clients should factor earlier engagement with DCA; streamline referral processes, and adopt coordination protocols. |
| Housing Delivery Authority enshrined | Provides a permanent state-level body focused on housing delivery. | Housing-led proposals may receive clearer prioritisation; strategic planning for housing is elevated. |
| Expanded Complying Development and new Targeted Assessment Pathway | Lower-impact or pre-consulted developmenst can be assessed more rapidly. | Opportunity for quicker approvals for certain project types; clients may see reduced time/cost overheads for low/medium risk works. |
| Updated objects of the EP&A Act to include housing delivery, climate resilience, proportionality | The Act’s “why we do planning” section is modernised. | When preparing Social Impact Assessment, View Loss Impact Reports, community engagement documents, and operational management plans, incorporate these themes: housing, climate, proportionality. |
| Streamlined community participation and repeal of fragmented consultation plans | A single Community Participation Plan replaces many localised ones. | Engagement strategies should be reviewed accordingly; standardised templates may appear; societal expectations of consultation may shift. |
| Removal/abolition of regional planning panels and outdated pathways | The Bill proposes abolishing district and regional planning panels and certain legacy approval routes. | Clients and consultants may need to adjust to changed decision-maker structures; risk of transitional uncertainty; early involvement of local councils remains crucial. |
The passage of the Planning System Reform Bill signals a shift in the planning landscape in NSW. It opens up opportunity for quicker housing delivery, better coordination and modern-day policy outcomes. At the same time, it requires consultants, planners and engagement practitioners to adapt their workflows, rethink timing and emphasise strategic alignment with housing and resilience priorities.
