3. How can we build support for affordable housing?

E. Make sure you are compliant & address substantive issues…

Even if there is community opposition to your development, this will be harder to sustain if you have addressed all the substantive issues (like parking, heritage and privacy), administrative matters (like having the right documentation) and compliance with relevant planning process and instruments.

Understanding the Development Assessment Process

One of the main barriers to the approval of affordable housing and boarding house developments under SEPP Affordable Rental Housing 2009 has been the ‘local character test’. It is important to understand how this has been interpreted to ensure your development does not face avoidable opposition

About the ‘local character test’

It is also a requirement of the SEPP that the development be in an ‘Accessible Area’ or meet other locational requirements , depending on whether it is in a metropolitan or regional area, or it has a high risk of not gaining approval.

SEPPARH sets out requirements for where new affordable housing can be located, which vary depending on whether the development is in Greater Sydney or a regional area.
If located in the Greater Sydney region, the proposed development must be located in an accessible area that is:

• EITHER within 800 metres walking distance from the public entrance to a railway station or ferry wharf;
• OR 400 metres from a light rail station/platform;
• OR 400 metres from a bus stop with regular bus service.

If the proposed development in located outside of the Greater Sydney region, it must be within 400 metres walking distance of land within Zone B2 Local Centre or Zone B4 Mixed Use, or within a land use zone that is equivalent to any of those zones. This is in recognition of the fact that many regional centres will not have public transport.

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