NSW government seeks developers to boost housing supply

The announcement follows an ongoing land audit that started in 2023 when state government agencies were asked to stop selling government-owned land and property to determine which ones could be used to address the NSW housing supply shortage.

The land audit recently identified 11 new building sites that will deliver about 1,300 homes, bringing a total of 22 sites to be developed across the state.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said the program was a “whole-of-government effort to unlock more private, social and affordable housing”.

To ease the state housing crisis faster, the NSW government is now looking for builders and investors to submit an ROI in purchasing the surplus NSW government sites to fast-track the delivery of the new dwellings.

“The majority of homes delivered during the housing accord period will be delivered by the private sector and that is why we are unlocking surplus land to deliver more well-located homes,” Scully said.

Investors can now register their interest in developing low, medium and high-density dwellings across 22 sites in Sydney and regional NSW.

Through their expression of interest, participants should identify the sites they are interested in and set a plan on how they would deliver housing while considering the government objectives, such as maximising dwelling yield, supporting the delivery of affordable and key workers’ rental housing, integrating modern methods of construction, minimising construction time and ensuring value for money.

Out of the new sites highlighted by the land audit, two sites in Menai and Haberfield are available with an estimated 242 dwellings with roughly 130 social and affordable homes.

Three extra sites at Rooty Hill, St Leonards and Chatswood are under investigation and have the potential to deliver about 850 dwellings, including more than 80 affordable homes.

Two sites in Darlinghurst and one site each in Turramurra, Frenchs Forest, Wakeley, and Wallarah on the Central Coast will be developed into housing in partnership with the private sector.

Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper, said housing was the number one priority for the Minns Labor government.

“We are pulling every lever to get the delivery of housing moving. Through the land audit, we’ve identified another 11 sites that could potentially deliver almost 1,300 homes, which will be another step in our efforts to address housing supply.”

“Having firmly established what can be achieved, the property audit will continue as an ongoing and regular function of government in our efforts to find new opportunities to deliver critically needed housing across NSW,” Kamper said.

Additionally, nine sites across the Hunter Region, Central West NSW and Greater Sydney area will deliver over 100 new social homes, which represents an increase of 79 homes above the existing supply.

Construction for the 100 social dwellings is set to start in the first half of 2025.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, has welcomed the state’s identification of the nine sites and said it will deliver affordable homes for people in need.

“Every home we deliver is a step towards a fairer and more secure future for families across NSW. These new sites will bring us closer to ensuring everyone has a place to call home,” Jackson said.

The ROI campaign by Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) is open until 14 December.