$3.9 million to help regional councils speed up homes

A pipeline of tens of thousands of new homes is expected to be unlocked in 19 regional communities, thanks to a share in $3.9 million from the NSW Government.

Executive Director of Housing Supply and Infrastructure Monica Gibson said $3.9 million in funding, delivered through the Department of Planning and Environment’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund, would help councils plan for new affordable, diverse, and resilient housing.

“These grants will help assist councils with developing strategic plans, policies and technical studies to pave the way for new homes across several regional communities,” Ms Gibson said.

“This important funding will support tens of thousands of new homes across the state, which will help put downward pressure on housing prices, make home ownership a reality for more people and get more roofs over people’s heads.”

Ms Gibson said the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund is part of the Government’s comprehensive response to the Regional Housing Taskforce’s recommendations to break down barriers to housing development and make sure the right planning settings are in place to unlock housing.

“Our response also contains a range of initiatives to improve data, develop partnerships, speed up assessments, and unlock land and enable infrastructure to create a strong housing pipeline across regional areas,” she said.

“This funding aligns with the Government’s $2.8 billion 2022 NSW Housing Package, where $33.8 million was allocated towards the creation of a 10-year regional housing supply pipeline, to enable the delivery of 127,000 new homes.

“We’re also providing funding and resources for regional councils to help them move a backlog of planning proposals and development applications (DAs) through our Unblocking Homes program, which will fast-track the delivery of tens of thousands of homes currently stuck in the system.”

Councils that missed out on funding this round will have further opportunities to apply, with up to $9 million available over the next 3 financial years.

For more information on the fund and to view the Government’s response to the Regional Housing Taskforce, visit Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund.