Council cracks down on boarding houses

CANTERBURY-Bankstown Council will soon crack down on the high number of boarding houses springing up across Canterbury saying lax planning rules have led to some “poor development outcomes”.

An artist's impression of a boarding house planned for 17 Arthur St, Punchbowl, which Canterbury-Bankstown Council rejected. The applicant has appealed to the Land and Environment Court.

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CANTERBURY-Bankstown Council will soon crack down on the high number of boarding houses springing up across Canterbury, saying lax planning rules have led to some “poor development outcomes”.

It wants to introduce the same tougher boarding house controls that have already operated in Bankstown since 2015, when the former Bankstown Council became the first local government area in NSW to use the courts to stop boarding houses being constructed in low-density residential areas, after introducing new measures approved by the then NSW Planning Minister. These additional controls addressed setbacks, solar access, design for climate, accessibility, privacy, open space, landscaped areas and parking.

The former Canterbury Council had no specific controls for boarding house development, relying on the Government’s Affordable Rental Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), released in 2009.

Colin St, Lakemba residents Reaz Hyder, Duncan Nguyen, Newaz Parvez were happy that Canterbury-Bankstown Council refused an application for a three-storey boarding house in their street back in August. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

The SEPP allows for boarding houses in most residential areas and some business zones.

Mayor Khal Asfour said once the SEPP came in boarding house approvals rose in Canterbury-Bankstown, with almost 700 rooms in 35 developments over the past nine years.

“Sole reliance on those controls has resulted in significant issues with boarding house development in Canterbury,” Mayor Asfour said.

“Because such development hasn’t been subject to the Apartment Design Guide, often resulting in very poor development outcomes. That situation is about to change. We intend to align controls to create consistency for this form of development right across Canterbury-Bankstown.”

The council has received 15 boarding house applications this year; seven were refused, one withdrawn, and the remainder are still waiting decision.

The council won recent court cases where two three-level boarding houses were rejected for sites at 118 Duntroon St and 36 Floss St, Hurlstone Park.