Sydney is getting 18 fast-tracked housing projects. James Packer is backing one

A James Packer-backed development in Surry Hills and a 22-storey tower in Edgecliff are among 18 housing projects fast-tracked by the state government’s new planning authority to deliver more than 8600 dwellings.

The second tranche of proposals considered by the Housing Development Authority, a three-person panel composed of the state’s most senior bureaucrats, were spread across 13 local government areas, including North Sydney, Woollahra, Inner West and Willoughby.

The triumvirate was appointed by Premier Chris Minns in mid-November to accelerate development approval times for major residential developments above $60 million in metropolitan areas and $30 million in regional NSW. More than 15,000 potential homes have been greenlit by the HDA since February 18. They will be subject to an accelerated approval process.

Announced on Thursday, the projects included a 1200-dwelling Mirvac development on the corner of Botany Road and Bourke Street in Zetland, a Stockland proposal to build a 50-storey apartment with retail on the Pacific Highway in St Leonards, and 156 luxury apartments including affordable housing in Surry Hills on Marlborough Street. Formerly a David Jones warehouse, the $110 million Marlborough House development by Time & Place is backed by James Packer.

Other projects include a 22-storey residential tower on McLean Street in Edgecliff, adjacent to the station. In late November, developer Longhurst overcame a significant hurdle after a planning panel approved a 35-storey development of the Edgecliff Centre.

Of the 39 proposals considered by the housing authority at the February 19 meeting, nearly half were recommended for the fast track, including projects in Bankstown, Hurstville, Gladesville and Macquarie Park. Applications in Lane Cove, Wahroonga and Castle Hill were among 16 projects knocked back.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully noted the number of potential homes that have been declared state-significant by the housing authority.

“The Minns Labor government established the HDA to reduce the time it takes for proposals to progress through a planning pathway, and it is pleasing to see that the first two HDA meetings have delivered quality proposals that will now develop detailed proposals,” he said.

“The quality of proposals recommended to me by the HDA shows that developers are hearing the message – we’re looking for major housing developments that can get out of the ground quickly.”

The HDA has received more than 200 expressions of interest since January. It comprises Premier’s Department secretary Simon Draper, Planning Department secretary Kiersten Fishburn and Infrastructure NSW chief executive Tom Gellibrand.

Despite rolling out a suite of planning reforms, the state government appears certain to fall considerably short of the homes required to be built by July 2029 under the National Housing Accord. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure forecasts that 151,670 new homes will be built in Greater Sydney by July 2029, below the 263,000 needed to meet the targets under the agreement.

The accelerated process has faced criticism from Local Government NSW, which described the announcement of the panel as a “Christmas gift for developers”.

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