Exemption from design competitions

You can only apply for a design competition exemption for residential accommodation or mixed-use developments involving residential accommodation on land identified as an 'accelerated precinct' under the Transport Oriented Development Program.

You can request a design competition exemption at any time. The request should be addressed to Abbie Galvin, NSW Government Architect at [email protected]

The written request must include:

• a description of the proposed development, outlining the planning framework and existing requirement to undertake a competitive design process in accordance with the relevant environmental planning instrument
• the name and professional registration details of the lead design architect for the development
• documentation certifying that the nominated architect has received a Royal Australian Institute of Architects award or commendation in the 'Multiple Housing' or 'Public Projects' categories within 10 years of the date of application for the competition exemption
• confirmation that architectural diversity will be achieved by ensuring each nominated architect has been appointed to design no more than 2 buildings on the site (where the site includes multiple residential or mixed-use buildings).

No. All requests for a design competition exemption will be evaluated against the criteria listed in the Transport Oriented Development: Design Competition Exemption Pathway Advisory Note. Each nominated architect must have received a Royal Australian Institute of Architects award or commendation in the 'Multiple Housing' or 'Public Projects' categories within 10 years of the date of application for the competition exemption.

See Transport Oriented Development competition exemption – sample of eligible NSW architects (PDF, 135 KB) for a sample list of eligible architects in NSW.

Yes, but all nominated architects must meet the criteria listed in the Transport Oriented Development: Design Competition Exemption Pathway Advisory Note.

For development sites that include multiple residential or mixed-use buildings, a single architect can only be nominated to design a maximum of 2 buildings. To ensure architectural diversity, additional collaborating architects that meet the criteria should be nominated for any additional buildings. Applications should provide sufficient information to help Government Architect NSW provide a clear response.

No. If 2 or more buildings share a common basement, each will be considered as a separate building.

No. Each nominated architect can design a maximum of 2 towers above a shared podium.

Government Architect NSW will provide a response to a written request for a design competition exemption within 21 working days.

All applications that meet the criteria will be accepted. If your application is rejected, the rejection letter will provide a reason. You can reapply by addressing the issues identified in the rejection letter.

To submit an application for review by the State Design Review Panel, log into or register for a NSW Planning Portal account and follow the State Design Review Panel applicant resource guides.

Applications should be made at the same time as the request for a design competition exemption. The State Design Review Panel will not undertake a review until the exemption is granted.

A fee will be payable once each session has been held.

For more information, see NSW State Design Review Panel.

NSW environmental planning instruments such as local environmental plans or state environmental planning policies may require a project to demonstrate 'design excellence'. The term refers to both a process and an outcome and is often described as 'the highest standard of architectural, urban and landscape design'. In many cases, a ‘competitive design process’ is required to demonstrate design excellence.

A ‘competitive design process’ is defined as a design competition held in accordance with the Design Competition Guidelines published by the Department in September 2023.

For more information, go to the Design competition guidelines.