Premier vows to speed up building approvals by slashing red tape

A re-elected Liberal Government would expedite home building by imposing statutory limits on the time frame councils have to consider residential planning approvals.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has promised to speed up housing approvals. Picture: Liberal Party Tasmania

A re-elected Liberal Government would expedite home building by imposing statutory limits on the time frame councils have to consider residential planning approvals.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said his party was keen to cut red tape and deliver more homes sooner by committing to statutory time frames for residential planning approvals.

Under the proposed rules, residential planning applications would be required to be determined within 28 days, and discretionary applications within 42 days.

“If applications are not approved within the 28 days, they will be deemed approved,” Mr Rockliff said on Wednesday.

”That gives certainty, itgives stability, and it gives confidence in the building and construction sector, but most importantly, it means that the young Tasmanians building their own home can get a roof over their heads even faster,

“We will also look to limit requests for information made by councils in relation to development applications to prevent unnecessary delays.

“This will mean we can get more Tasmanian families into homes sooner.

Scott Wilson from developers JOSCON Tasmania said current arrangements were too slow.

“Too many of our homes take longer to go through pre-site than they do actually construct the home,” he said.

“We welcome any change in all changes that’s going to change that.”

And Will Davies from Master Builders Tasmania said the industry welcomed the Liberals’ proposal.

“Our members will be enthusiastic to hear about generating certainty in their construction pipelines and it creates opportunities and jobs for our subcontractors and all their employees to deliver much-needed houses,” he said.

Mr Rockliff said the changes will be supported by $150,000 for the Planning Institute of Australia, Local Government Association of Tasmania and the Property Council of Australia (Tasmania) to develop guidance and education materials.

And he said a re-elected Liberal Government will also modernise the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act to streamline the Act for more functional use by councils and developers.

Originally published as Premier vows to speed up building approvals by slashing red tape