The Hon. Peter Malinauskas, Premier of South Australia, The Hon. Nick Champion, Minister for Housing and Urban Development (SA) and Minister for Planning (SA), Joint Media Release, 16 August 2023
New homes in key growth areas will be built quicker and approvals fast-tracked in the latest Malinauskas Government measure to tackle the housing crisis.
South Australians building in greenfield areas will no longer require planning approval for new homes, allowing compliant builds that meet basic requirements to bypass the separate planning consent process through councils and associated cost.
New homes in master planned communities will now progress straight to building assessment under a simpler, faster and more affordable approval process, helping South Australians own their own home sooner and reducing red tape.
The changes – to be implemented as part of the Government’s A Better Housing Future plan – set out minimum planning requirements for new homes to be assessed as ‘accepted development’, including:
- Only one dwelling on the allotment,
- Minimum building setbacks,
- Maximum building height of 2 levels or 9m,
- Minimum design, appearance and site services,
- Minimum carparking and appropriate vehicle access,
- Appropriate connection to water supply and wastewater removal.
These requirements are easily assessable by a building certifier, enabling these basic planning matters to be considered at the building consent stage – instead of an earlier planning consent process which can take weeks.
Building consent and final development approval will still be required to ensure new homes – developed in greenfield ‘Master Planned Neighbourhood’ and ‘Master Planned Township’ zones – are safe and meet standards.
The changes will not apply in established suburbs, or infill areas, as a greater level of design is needed to integrate a new house into an existing streetscape.
The new framework builds on the fast tracking of the single largest residential land release in the State’s history – set to deliver more than 25,000 more homes – and follows planning reform to greenlight hundreds of homes for workers in regional SA.
The Malinauskas Government is delivering a $474.4 million housing package to boost supply and affordability, including abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers of new homes up to $650,000 to get more South Australians into affordable homes.
Quotes attributable to Peter Malinauskas
The housing crisis we are in requires urgent action and removing red tape where appropriate.
These immediate changes allow South Australians to realise their dream of home ownership sooner and cuts down the lengthy approval process involved.
This gives confidence to new homebuyers and industry that we are increasing supply in key growth areas as quickly as possible, with planning safeguards in place.
Quotes attributable to Nick Champion
Fast-tracking new homes in master planned communities will deliver a quicker critical housing boost desperately needed across the State.
A more streamlined and efficient planning system means better outcomes for South Australians wanting to build their own home – easing pressure on a tight market.
As we unlock vital supply through a record land release, our Government wants to remove barriers for new homebuyers while ensuring long-term planning requirements are met.
