By Councillor Ellsmore
(A)
Council note:
(i)
Sydney
is amid a housing affordability crisis, affecting both renters and aspiring
homeowners;
(ii)
despite
housing supply issues, there have been reports that developers are redeveloping
multi-dwelling apartment buildings that have traditionally been affordable due
to their age and size to make way for fewer luxury apartments;
(iii) recently, both Woollahra and Waverley
Councils resolved to update their Local Environment Plans (LEPs) to prevent new
developments that result in a reduction of dwellings; and
(iv) for example, Waverley Council recently
inserted a new objective into its Local Environmental Plan (LEP) ‘to increase
or preserve residential dwelling density’, and require a Social Impact
Statement for where a development proposes a ‘reduction in dwelling numbers on
site’; and
(B) the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:
(i)
advise
Council on any available data about the ‘net dwelling loss’ in the City of
Sydney Local Government Area;
(ii)
investigate
preparing a planning proposal to include objectives and controls in the Sydney
Local Environmental Plan 2012 to protect against the net reduction of dwellings
on a development site; and
(iii) report back to Council.
Note – at
the meeting of Council, the content of the original Notice of Motion was varied
by Councillor Ellsmore. Subsequently it was –
Moved by
Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Chan –
It is resolved that:
(A) Council note:
(i)
Sydney
is amid a housing affordability crisis, affecting both renters and aspiring
homeowners;
(ii)
despite
housing supply issues, there have been reports that developers are redeveloping
multi-dwelling apartment buildings that have traditionally been affordable due
to their age and size to make way for fewer luxury apartments;
(iii)
recently,
both Woollahra and Waverley Councils resolved to update their Local Environment
Plans (LEPs) to prevent new developments that result in a reduction of
dwellings; and
(iv)
for
example, Waverley Council recently inserted a new objective into its Local
Environmental Plan (LEP) ‘to increase or preserve residential dwelling
density’, and require a Social Impact Statement for where a development
proposes a ‘reduction in dwelling numbers on site’; and
(B)
the
Chief Executive Officer be requested to:
(i)
advise
Council on any available data about the ‘net dwelling loss’ in the City of
Sydney Local Government Area;
(ii)
investigate
preparing a planning proposal to include objectives and controls in the Sydney
Local Environmental Plan 2012 to protect against the net reduction of dwellings
on a development site;
(iii)
note
that the City of Sydney Council resolved on 3 April 2023 to consider the
cumulative loss of housing from ‘change of use’ of boarding houses, and also to
investigate strengthening protection against the loss or reduction of dwellings
within boarding houses; and
(iv)
report
back to Council.
Carried unanimously.
X086659