The Grattan Institute argues that NSW could make 1 million additional homes feasible to build by copying Victoria’s planning rules that allow terraces and three‑storey apartments “as of right” across most residential zones.
This would remove councils’ ability to block low‑rise infill housing that already meets clear design standards.
Victoria now allows terraces, townhouses, and three‑storey apartments to be approved automatically (“deemed to comply”) if they meet objective standards for height, setbacks, and site coverage. Councils cannot veto compliant developments.
