Planning reforms
![](/sites/default/files/2024-02/planning-reforms-1200x800.jpg)
The NSW Government is delivering reforms to improve assessment time frames, reduce red tape, eliminate double-handling and fast-track projects that deliver great public benefits, create jobs and keep the economy moving.
![Aerial view of NSW coastal area.](/sites/default/files/2023-03/concurrence-and-referral-reforms-1500x500.jpg)
We are reducing the number of applications that need concurrences and referrals and improving system efficiency to deliver faster decisions.
![A female building certifier inspects scaffolding on a building site. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Christopher Walters](/sites/default/files/2023-03/complying-development-reforms-1500x500.jpg)
Reforms to complying development, focused on employment areas, offer a fast-tracked approval pathway for straight forward developments.
![Artist's impression of industrial business area.](/sites/default/files/2023-03/employment-land-strategies-1500x500.jpg)
Employment land strategies summarise the economic settings, barriers to growth and opportunities associated with employment land in specific local government areas.
![Cafes and restaurants lining the Five Ways, Paddington. Credit: Destination NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-06/employment-zones-reform-1200x800.jpg)
We have delivered a simplified employment zone framework to support job creation and increased productivity.
![Looking down on 1 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000.](/sites/default/files/2023-09/estimated-development-cost-1200x800.jpg)
A new, simpler and more transparent way to improve the quality and consistency of development cost estimates.
![Children enjoying The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park. Credit: Destination NSW](/sites/default/files/2023-09/nsw-public-open-spaces-legacy-program-1200x800.jpg)
The NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program is a $250 million investment in high quality public open space, by incentivising accelerated development assessment speeds and creating long lasting community benefit.
![Apartment construction in Wollongong NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Don Fuchs](/sites/default/files/2023-06/planning-delivery-unit-1200x800.jpg)
We work with proponents, councils and NSW Government agencies to resolve issues so that decisions can be made more promptly.
![Rukshan de Silva - Peaceful Rest. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment](/sites/default/files/2023-03/cemeteries-as-state-significant-development-1500x500.jpg)
Large cemetery projects have become state-significant development to make their assessment clearer and more consistent.
![Carter Street, Olympic Park Sydney Artist Impressions. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / TVU Productions](/sites/default/files/2023-03/planning-reform-action-plan-1500x500.jpg)
Find out more about how we're building a better future by reforming the planning system.
![Construction site of a new building development.](/sites/default/files/2023-03/planning-system-acceleration-program-1500x500.jpg)
We’ve brought forward immediate reforms to the planning system to support productivity, investment and jobs during COVID-19.
![Freight train travelling along the inland NSW rail line.](/sites/default/files/2023-03/priority-assessment-program-1500x500.jpg)
The Priority Assessment Program identifies and case-manages projects with the potential to deliver a strong pipeline of investment, public benefit, growth and jobs.
![Man and woman couple walk through park - Barangaroo, Sydney NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment](/sites/default/files/2023-03/rapid-assessment-framework-1500x500.jpg)
We have made changes to major project assessment to reduce timeframes, increase environmental assessment quality and deliver better outcomes.
![State significant development warehouse and data centre.](/sites/default/files/2023-03/ssd-warehouses-and-data-centres-1422x1006.jpg)
We’ve made temporary changes to include more warehouses and data centres as state-significant development to support the economy and the rapid growth in the e-commerce sector.
![Three people sitting together looking at and discussing a document.](/sites/default/files/2023-03/standard-conditions-of-consent-1500x500.jpg)
We have prepared a guide to writing conditions of development consent and developed new standard conditions to provide greater consistency.