The NSW Government has today launched the NSW Housing Pattern Book of low-rise designs, alongside a a world-first new Complying Development pathway, that it says will significantly speed up the delivery of new homes.
Following the launch of an international pattern book design competition in 2024, the Government Architect has now endorsed eight terrace, townhouse and manorhouse designs for families, young people and downsizers that will be available for $1,000 a design.
“For too long, too many people in NSW have been locked out of the housing market by rising costs and a system that made it too hard to build. We’re changing that,” said Premier, Chris Minns.
“This Pattern Book is about giving people more choice, faster approvals, and affordable, high-quality homes – whether you’re a young person trying to get in, a family needing more space, or a downsizer looking to stay close to the community you know.
“This is a practical step to make the housing system fairer – and make sure NSW remains a place where the next generation can afford to live and thrive.”
The Pattern Book was created to be affordable, easy to build, and sustainable. With each design to be adaptable for different family sizes and housing needs, this includes different room formations and layout, helping to create vibrant, diverse communities that reflect the people who live in them.
Every purchase of a design, also comes with a complimentary Landscape Pattern to help new home-owners design their own garden that maximises biodiversity and suits the climate they’re living in.
For the first six months, the Government is significantly subsidising access to designs with each pattern being made available for $1 per pattern. The price is a significant discount on the professional fees that potential builders or homeowners would usually pay for a custom architecturally designed home that could be estimated to cost over $20,000, said Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully.
“The NSW Housing Pattern Book allows people to select an architect designed home, that comes with a landscape plan and an approval pathway that only takes a week to complete so they can start building almost immediately,” he said.
“Much of Sydney was built on pattern books. They look great, they’re simple and cost-effective. We’re accelerating these designs with their own approval pathway so those wishing to build can get an approval in one week.
“The NSW Housing Pattern Book takes the guesswork and the delay out of home-building. These designs are high-quality, easy to build, and for the first six months, they’ll cost $1.
“These designs offer choice, with less complexity, making it easier to build homes in NSW.”
A new 10-day approval pathway has been developed by the NSW Government alongside the Pattern Book to fast-track these high-quality homes, cutting major costs and delays that normally plague home-builders.
This new, fast-tracked pathway will create the opportunity for these architect designed homes to commence construction within ten days of an application being made, subject to all appropriate assessments being completed.
The Complying Development pathway will be available from 30 July.
“I am excited to be able to share these patterns that can be used by the development industry, architects, planners, councils and communities,” said Government Architect NSW, Abbie Galvin.
“The pattern book offers practical and sustainable designs that can be adapted to suit many neighbourhoods, positively contributing to the character of a street.
“We are making it quicker and easier to build new low-rise homes that offer housing diversity for the whole community.”
The delivery of homes through the NSW Housing Pattern Book is further supported by the Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms that have made terraces, townhouses and manorhouses broadly permissable across NSW.
The NSW Housing Pattern Book will be advertised to potential home-buyers and builders through an advertising campaign that is also being launched today, highlighting the benefits of using a pattern book design.
To view the pattern book, visit – https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/nsw-housing-pattern-book.
