About the New Approach to Strategic Planning
The NSW Government recently exhibited the Discussion Paper “A New Approach to Strategic Planning” that sets out a proposed three‑tiered planning framework for NSW – State, Region and Local, to make the planning system easier to understand and more consistent across the state. It introduces 7 statewide planning priorities and outlines how these priorities would guide future land use decisions across NSW.
The Discussion Paper also outlines the role of a State Land Use Plan, how the new framework will work, and what it means for communities, councils and industry.
The proposed new approach aims to:
- reduce duplication across the planning system
- align housing, jobs and infrastructure planning
- support councils with clearer guidance and direction
- make planning priorities and policies easier to navigate and implement.
The Paddington Society welcomed the opportunity to comment on the “A New Approach to Strategic Planning: Discussion Paper” and the draft Sydney Plan and has responded.
Our concerns are outlined below:
- Our principal concern is a lack of recognition of the significance of NSW and Sydney heritage, and the importance of heritage identification and preservation. There is hardly any reference to heritage in either document. Yet many places respected, enjoyed, and treasured are buildings, landscapes and places from the past that define NSW and Sydney.
- Current planning changes are denying the significance of our heritage. The role of the Heritage Council and Heritage NSW is being eroded. Heritage protection is being lifted, in the false assumption that heritage is limiting opportunities for additional housing. There is no evidence to support these tragic assumptions.
- The current proposals for rezoning for very high density are in our view raising expectations for property values that will drive the prices of land and housing up and limit the actual delivery of additional housing because of unreasonable land value expectations.
- Density can be achieved with civilised 4 to 5 storey development, rather than very tall buildings that are destroying the skylines and places that are particular to Sydney.
Read the Society’s submission in full.
Now that consultation has closed, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is:
- Reviewing all submissions received during the exhibition period
- Assessing potential refinements to the proposed framework based on feedback from communities, councils, industry and planning experts
- Working with councils and key stakeholders to ensure the new framework is practical and supports consistent decision-making
- Preparing the final recommendations for consideration and next steps in implementing a new statewide strategic planning approach.
- This process ensures community and stakeholder input directly informs the development of the State Land Use Plan and guides further updates to the strategic planning framework.
The State Land Use Plan is expected to be released in 2026. The Paddington Society is very concerned about the direction that planning is now being driven.
Our culture, our history, our natural and built environment will all suffer.
The Paddington Society’s concerns regarding the Discussion Paper are outlined in our submission, and we trust that the DPHI Strategic Planning and Systems Policy Team will take our concerns into consideration.
