Australia's housing shortage is a pressing issue. One of the most significant yet overlooked contributors is the planning approval process itself.
The Housing Crisis: A Real Challenge in Western Sydney
Australia's housing shortage is a pressing issue. It is not just a theoretical problem; it is visible in our communities. While policies focus on increasing housing supply, density, and affordability, the outcomes often fall short.
One of the most significant yet overlooked contributors to this issue is the planning approval process itself. As a developer and licensed builder actively working on residential and commercial projects across Sydney, I have witnessed how approval delays, discretionary assessments, and inconsistent interpretations of planning controls directly impact housing density, delivery timelines, and overall feasibility.
Planning Policy vs. Planning Reality
At both state and local levels, planning frameworks set clear objectives:
• Increase housing supply • Encourage density in suitable locations • Improve approval efficiency by introducing non-discretionary requirements
However, in practice, development assessment processes often yield the opposite results. Projects that comply with zoning and controls frequently face extended assessment periods, multiple redesigns, or discretionary refusals. The issue lies not in the existence of planning controls but in how they are interpreted and applied.
Where Delays Actually Occur
From experience, approval delays typically occur due to:
• Discretionary interpretations of compliant controls • Multiple rounds of design amendments without clear benchmarks • Internal referral processes within councils • Risk-averse assessment practices
Each delay adds pressure to feasibility. Holding costs increase, funding conditions change, and construction pricing becomes unpredictable. The end result is slower housing delivery, even when demand is evident and policy support exists.
The Impact on Housing Supply
Approval delays do not merely affect individual projects; they influence market behavior. Prolonged and uncertain approval pathways can:
• Reduce the number of projects that move forward • Favor large, well-capitalised developers • Discourage smaller and medium-scale housing delivery • Ultimately restrict housing supply and diversity
In essence, delay becomes a hidden planning control.
Looking Forward: A Call for Change
Planning systems are crucial in shaping our cities. If housing supply is a genuine priority, we must scrutinise approval processes for delivery effectiveness, not just compliance.
Bridging the gap between planning theory and development reality requires research grounded in real projects, real timelines, and real constraints.
To tackle the housing crisis effectively, collaboration is key. Stakeholders, including developers, local councils, and community members, must work together. By fostering open dialogue, we can identify common goals and streamline the approval process.
Oliver Alameri is a Sydney-based property developer and licensed builder, as well as the director of Buildana. He holds a Master of Property Development from the University of Technology Sydney and is currently pursuing further research into planning approval efficiency and housing delivery outcomes.
Oliver Alameri
Founder and Managing Director of Buildana. Oliver has over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial construction across Western Sydney, with a focus on delivering quality builds and creating value for clients through smart design and rigorous project management.
