The State Government’s reforms will affect Neutral Bay and Cremorne town centres, and areas around train and metro stations.
With its low and mid-rise housing reforms, the State Government is aiming to create more housing choice in well located areas within walking distance of shops, services and frequent public transport.
‘Low-rise housing’ is generally 1–2 storeys and includes dual occupancies (2 dwellings on the same lot), terraces, townhouses and low-rise apartment buildings (manor houses). It does not include freestanding houses.
‘Mid-rise housing’ is generally 3–6 storey apartment buildings.
Low and mid-rise housing will be allowed within 800 metres of well-located shops, services and transport hubs, including St Leonards station, Crows Nest metro station, Waverton station, Wollstonecraft station, Milsons Point station, Neutral Bay town centre and Cremorne town centre, as a result of changes to planning controls in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021.
Within these station and town centre precincts, the reforms would permit residential flat buildings (up to 6 storeys) within the R3 Medium Density Residential zone (current height limit of 8.5m); and allow manor houses and multi-dwelling housing within the R2 Low Density Residential zone, which are currently prohibited under the North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2013.
Council staff will work through the details of the reforms when the detailed information is made available by the State Government and provide more updates in the coming weeks.
For more information, please see the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's webpage about its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.