Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia and the staged shutdowns that have been implemented across the country, the outlook for the housing market faces significant uncertainty. Whilst the full impact of COVID-19 on the economy, labour market and housing demand still remains to be seen, as part of its response to the impacts of COVID-19, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) proposes to introduce a new ‘Housing Diversity State Environmental Planning Policy' (Housing Diversity SEPP).
The Housing Diversity SEPP is intended to facilitate the construction of affordable and well-designed rental accommodation and introduces updates to existing planning provisions for seniors, social and student housing. The Housing Diversity SEPP is one of the ways that the DPIE hopes to ensure that the development sector plays an active role in assisting in the economic recovery of New South Wales. While a draft copy of the Housing Diversity SEPP has not been publicly
