THOUSANDS OF NEW DWELLINGS SET TO BE BUILT IN RYDE’S
NEIGHBOURHOODS UNLESS HOUSING CODE IS DEFERRED
More than 2 3,00 0 additional dwellings could be permi ssible in the City of Ryde ‘s low -density residential
neighbourhoods from 1 July unless the NSW Government grants Council a short deferral of the Medium
Density Housing Code.
The Medium Density Housing Code, which is due to be implemented from 1 July, allow s mul ti-dwelling
houses such as small blocks of flat s (knowns as manor houses) and dual occupancy dwellings to be built
in R2 Low Density R esidential neighbourhoods in numbers far exceeding low densities.
The code’s implementation was initially deferred in the City of Ryde and 45 other local government a reas
by the NSW Government to allow c ouncil s to undertake planning wo rk that would guide housing provision
and accommodate predicted growth.
As part of this work, Council produced a d raft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), w ith the support
of the Greater Sydney Commission in March 2020, that set t he priorities and vision for Ryde’s growing city.
Council also developed a Local Housing Strategy to address the city’s evolving demographics and ensure
appropriate housing diversity can be delivered in a sustainable manner into the future.
In accordance with the vision in Council’s LSPS and based on the evidence and analysis in the Local
Housing Strategy, Council then developed a planning proposal to ensure the Medium Density Housing
Code would apply in a more sustainable and appropriate manner.
This proposal, which would prevent the approval of multi -dwelling developments and manage the number
and location of dual occupancy developments in Ryde’s low -density residential neighbourhoods, was
provided to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment seeking approval for public exhibition
on 30 March 2020.
At the start of this month – one month before the code’s implementation – the department requested
further in formation be included in the proposal before community consultation can take place.
City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, said the short deferral was essential to allow Council to finalise the
planning proposal and protect Ryde’s low -density residential neighbourhoods.
“The City of Ryde has opposed the Medium Density Housing Code since day one, as it has the potential to
allow 23,000 additional dwellings and 60,000 residents in low -density neighbourhoods – numbers which
are five times higher than the targets set by the Greater Sydney Commission,” Clr Laxale said.
“Despite our opposition to t he code we worked with the NSW Government on the undertaking that our
planning proposal would be completed in time to save our streets. Instead, at the 11th hour, they’ve shifted
the goal posts, making a mockery of Planning M inister Rob S tokes ‘ statement that he’s willing to work with
council.
“Given it is the government’s department that has put the brakes on Council’s proposal, it is only right for
the government to grant Council a short deferral so we can save our quiet neighbourhoods. Without a
deferral, there will be bulldozers in every st reet in two weeks.
“Canterbury -Bankstown and Northern Beaches councils are in the same boat as the City of Ryde with
planning proposals currently with the department that require more time before finalising.
