_UDIA FORUM – APARTMENT DESIGN AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Guidelines and standards for apartment design are being debated rigorously in the planning industry with the release in May by the State Government of the Better Apartments discussion paper. A panel of four industry experts engaged in a lively debate at a UDIA forum last week.
Christine Wyatt, Deputy Secretary of DELWP, introduced the topic and gave a brief overview of the process thus far. She encouraged everyone to get involved in the discussion as the Minister for Planning with the support of the Department of Environment, Water and Planning (DELWP) is in the consultative phase of the process and is seeking feedback from the development industry and the general public.
Craig Yelland sees no reason to change the existing planning controls applicable to apartment developments. He believes that the current system rewards good design by permitting development above discretionary controls where an exemplary design is proposed. According to Craig, the NSW SEPP 65 regulations have made finding a suitable site in Sydney and developing a feasible scheme incredibly difficult, subsequently driving up the cost of apartments.
Marcus Spiller believes that the internal specifications of apartments should be left to the market to determine with only the aspects of apartment development that affect public amenity being regulated.
We will be keen to see the process unfold over the coming months and look forward to seeing the first draft of the guidelines in 2016.