The NSW State government has finally updated the NSW Planning Portal Spacial Viewer. This viewer now has a map of the “Lane Cove Town Centre” to enable locals to put in their addresses to see if their property is within 400/800m of the town centre. The town centre map is very similar to the indicative map previously published.
Lane Cove Town Centre Map
The 400m/800m is measured from the edge of the Town Centre Map and uses the term walking distance. You do not measure the 400/800m from a specific point such as the Lane Cove Post Office or the Lane Cove Council Chambers. Read this article to see more about the Low and Mid Rise Housing Reforms.
We have previously reported that reforms designed to boost the housing supply have generated a “maze of confusion”. Read our article here. Our article highlights the complexity of the changes and the need for clear communication.
This confusing approach to town planning legislation continues. When the NSW Government announced the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms, it was noted that the “in fill affordable housing bonus” would also apply. The affordable housing bonus allows developers to build slightly bigger buildings (taller or with more floor space) if they include affordable housing.
When the second stage of the low and mid-rise housing reforms began on 28 February 2025, the instrument amending the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (Housing SEPP) did not implement the in-fill affordable housing bonus provisions outlined in Chapter 2 of the SEPP for developments in low and mid-rise housing areas, contrary to the announcement made by the NSW Government.
To correct this oversight, the Housing SEPP was amended on Friday, March 14, 2025, by publishing the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan Amendment (In-fill Affordable Housing) 2025 (Amending LEP). The Amending LEP did not change the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009 but solely amended the Housing SEPP. Read more here.
Lane Cove Council Information Session Public Information Session – NSW Government Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy – Fully Booked
Due to interest in the town planning reforms, the Lane Cove Council has scheduled an information session on Monday, March 24, 2025. This session is fully booked, and they are now also live streaming it.
The webcast will be streamed via the Council Webcast page from 6:00pm (no bookings or log-in required).
Background Reading
The Low and Medium Density Reforms are also called in-fill development or the missing middle. Watch this video from Sydney Yimby to see what low—and medium-density apartments look like.
Transport Orientated Development (TOD) Accelerated Projects Crows Nest
The other housing reform is the TOD – at this stage it does not impact Lane Cove LGA except for St Leonards South.
The Minns Labor Government has delivered masterplans for its Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Accelerated Precincts.
Masterplans have been completed for Bankstown, Bella Vista, Crows Nest, Homebush, Hornsby, Kellyville and Macquarie Park. See below the area that has been ear marked for quicker rezoning. The only area in the Lane Cove Council Local Government Area that is impacted is along the Pacific Highway in St Leonards South.
The finalisation of the rezonings for these precincts means development applications can now be submitted and assessed.
Also known as tier one TOD sites, these are high-priority locations that have undergone accelerated rezonings and will accommodate high and mid-rise homes within around 1200m of these metro and rail stations.
These homes and jobs will also be supported by $520 million to fund new public spaces and active transport links meaning more vibrant and walkable precincts.
The masterplans establish a three per cent affordable housing rate, with homes to be held as affordable housing in perpetuity across all sites, and higher affordable housing rates of up to 18 per cent across key sites within the precincts. The TOD Program is the first time in NSW history that a government has introduced inclusionary zoning for affordable housing in perpetuity.
To encourage faster development, new provisions were exhibited alongside the masterplans to offer a streamlined pathway for planning assessments, including:
Proposals which are more than $60 million (or approximately 100 homes) will have access to the State Significant Development pathway. This will provide an assessment within 275 days, with only 90 of those days being in government hands.
Excluding certain low-risk concurrence and referral (C&R) provisions as requirements for development applications, because this has been dealt with at the rezoning stage. This means that new homes will be delivered faster.
Exempting residential developments in TOD Accelerated Precincts from design competitions while still requiring design excellence and meeting the Apartment Design Guidelines.
These masterplans were finalised following public feedback received during an extended six-week community exhibition period which concluded in August.
All feedback from the community and stakeholders was carefully considered by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to shape the finalisation of these rezonings.
This rezoning will come into effect this Wednesday, 27 November 2024, and development applications will then be able to be lodged to build new homes.
The delivery of the final masterplans for the TOD Accelerated Precincts will be a significant contribution to the Minns Government’s commitment to rebalance Sydney’s housing growth around existing transport infrastructure meaning better, more accessible and connected communities.
The TOD Accelerated Plan will mean:
Crows Nest – 5,900 new homes and 2,500 jobs. The benefits are:
- Better connectivity for walking and cycling to the Sydney Metro and heavy rail stations with new road and public open space upgrades.
- Increased tree canopy to maintain the leafy character of the St Leonards and Crows Nest precinct.
- These new homes and jobs are all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families and workers have somewhere to live.
- More information on TOD Accelerated Precincts can be found here: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/transport-oriented-development-program/accelerated-precincts
Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:
“By getting these masterplans done, we are another step closer to building more homes for the next generation.
“These precincts will deliver a mix of housing, new open spaces and playing fields – they’ll be great communities for families to build a life.
“This is all part of our Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more homes, so young people, families and workers have somewhere to live.”
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