The Department of Planning, industry and Environment (DPIE) is calling for feedback on proposals to make it easier to meet demand for childcare and education facilities and streamline planning approval processes for the facilities.
Executive Director of State Policies and Strategic Advice at the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Felicity Greenway, said the proposed changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Educational Establishments and Child Care Facilities) 2017 would make it easier for schools, TAFEs and universities to build new facilities and improve existing ones.
“These proposed changes are part of a broader NSW Government’s Planning Reform Action Plan aimed at making the planning system more timely, transparent and certain,” Ms Greenway said.
“One of the biggest changes is lifting thresholds for school and tertiary education projects to be considered as State significant.
“This will address specific barriers for quicker delivery of low impact school and university developments.”
Ms Greenway said the changes would lift limits for development without consent provisions for schools and tertiary institutions from one storey to two storeys.
She said they would also provide a clear planning pathway for student housing on university, TAFE and school campuses and support ongoing investment in innovation hubs for related commercial uses.
“Student housing will be allowed to be undertaken within the boundaries of existing campuses, and these changes will align with other new policies on housing diversity,” Ms Greenway said.
“We are also seeking to address concerns about cumulative amenity impacts from closely located childcare centres in residential areas.”
She said the Department was seeking feedback on the proposed amendments from Councils, Government Agencies, industry and the general public.
More information is available at this PS News link.
