The NSW Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has now been operating for over a year and is having a demonstrable effect on the market and has resulted in many projects being declared State Significant Development (SSD). This has the benefit of opening up an accelerated approval pathway for the projects through the State system. For owners of substantial sites in Greater Sydney and major regional centres, the pathway is commercially relevant and, in many cases, significantly value changing.

In February 2024, the NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy came into effect. This has reshaped what can be developed on certain residential sites across Sydney, including parts of Drummoyne.

With the recent wave of rezonings under the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, Transport Oriented Development (TOD) programs and other planning reforms across Sydney, Newcastle and the Illawarra, many older Australians are now living on land that holds far more value for development than ever before.

Many owners of property with significant development potential have thought about the potential returns from developing their property themselves. After all, if you could add a developer’s profit to the underlying land value, the returns could be two to three times higher than simply selling to a developer. But the question is how do you start and is it worth the risk?

The NSW Government has implemented the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy (LMR Policy) and it is one of the most significant planning changes in recent years, applying to many hundreds of properties across a large swathe of the Lower North Shore.

The NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy isn’t just about housing, it’s about money. For those who move quickly, it presents one of the biggest opportunities for property owners and investors in years.

The NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy is set to boost housing supply by allowing a greater variety of homes in well connected locations. Stage 2 of the policy comes into effect on 28 February 2025 and will permit dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses, apartments and shop top housing in certain residential zones.

The property and development market is currently experiencing a surge in activity due to the introduction of NSW Housing Reforms this year, which are aimed at addressing the housing crisis.

Releasing more value from your land in Sydney's real estate market involves more than just recognising its underlying value. It's about strategically accessing the development profit to significantly boost your returns while minimising your exposure to additional risks.

Our experiences advising private property owners have revealed a long list of important issues that are on the minds of private property owners.