Additional dwelling approvals surge

Housing graphic for illustration

Central Coast Council’s quarterly report into the activities of the Development Assessment (DA) and Environment and Certification Units reveal that 6,181 additional dwellings had received approval since the commencement of the Central Coast Regional Plan in October 2016.

According to Council, that number of approvals was more than 2,031 ahead of the target of 4,150 set by the NSW Government in the plan. Some 894 development applications were determined in the final quarter of 2017 alone, including 155 additional lots and 599 dwellings including secondary dwellings, detached dwellings, dual occupancies, multi-dwelling housing and units within residential flat buildings. Mayor Jane Smith said that as the Central Coast community grows, Council is committed to facilitating development that provides a variety of housing to suit the needs and lifestyles of the community, support local jobs and services, while protecting and enhancing the local environment.

“We know from the Central Coast Regional Plan, that the Coast is expected to grow by approximately 75,000 people by 2036, taking our population to over 415,000,” Mayor Smith said. “To meet these needs, the region will require 41,500 new homes by 2036, an average of 2,075 new homes per year over the 20-year lifespan of the plan. “We can meet this need, whilst still maintaining the Coastal lifestyle we enjoy and value, through a shared and collaborative process between the development sector, the State Government, Council and the community.” The report also detailed the significant reduction in outstanding development applications from over 800 at the time of the Council amalgamation, to 496 in January 2018. An average long-term target is 450 applications, which, when met, will mean the Central Coast will deliver one of the most efficient assessment systems in NSW.

Source: Media release, Feb 26 Jane Smith, Central Coast Council

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