In May, Inner West Council tabled the revised Our Fairer Future Local Environment Plan (LEP) for public exhibition. The LEP seeks to reconcile the Small to Mid-Rise (SMR) and Transport Oriented Development (TOD) housing reforms with the form and features of the Inner West. Housing supply, the focus of the reforms, was a key consideration of the LEP, with the plan expected to deliver approximately 31,000 new dwellings.
Shelter NSW was invited to the launch of the LEP and welcomed the intent from council to take a targeted approach to address housing supply rather than the one-size-fits-all model outlined in the SMR and TOD reforms. Council’s concern for both affordability and amenity demonstrated an understanding of how council can positively affect housing reform.
However, the intent of council did not always align with the provisions of the LEP. After consultation with members and sector partners, Shelter encouraged greater ambition from the LEP through the submissions process and in subsequent meetings. Affordability was of particular concern, given previous admissions from council to the severe undersupply of affordable housing within the LGA. Council’s proposed 5% affordable housing contribution scheme, phased in on projects with a GFA greater than 2000m2 over 5 years, did not match the level of ambition required to meaningfully address local affordability concerns. Likewise, the investigation of underutilised land held by faith-based organisations for development was encouraging but rather needlessly limited to one category of under-utilised land in the LGA.
Our Fairer Future is a step in the right direction for the Inner West Council, though how meaningful it proves to be will depend on the outcomes of public exhibition and consultation. Shelter NSW looks forward to continuing to work with the Inner West Council – early and often – and our sector partners in the LGA to develop policy outcomes that can improve the affordability and amenity of the Inner West.