A better Act for better places
01 December 2017
NSW Government: Designing urban environments that
create vibrant communities and enhance quality of life is now a focus of
new laws that will make the
planning system simpler.
Recent changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment (EP&A) Act
1979 now mean that good design is a prominent feature of the
legislation.
NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Deputy Secretary for
Policy, Strategy & Governance, Alison Frame, said the new legislation
advocates for better design for our state, cities and towns.
“Over the decades design principles have been an afterthought. We now
have the opportunity to create spaces that are functional, but also
inspiring and attractive,” Ms Frame said.
“Adaptability and flexibility is important. We can’t just design for
now, we need to be able to create spaces that can be renewed and updated
to reflect the needs and desires of future communities.
“The look and feel of a place is important to people and the best way to
achieve that is with thoughtful and skilful design. With any new
development, maintaining character and heritage is vital and having
green, open spaces is a right for all.”
Good design is now a new “object” in the amended EP&A Act and would be
complemented by the recently launched Better Placed design policy, the
state’s award winning, first-ever design policy.
Better Placed was drafted with input from architects, urban designers
and planners to set out the principles and directions essential to
creating better places for new developments in built environments across
Sydney and the regions.
“The Act will facilitate the NSW Government’s initiatives around good
design and fits hand in glove with the Better Placed policy that the
Government introduced in August,” Ms Frame added.
NSW Executive Director of the
Australian Institute of Architects, Joshua
Morrin, said the amendments give legislative weight to Better Placed.
"The most far-reaching change affecting architects is the inclusion of
‘good design of the built environment’ as a new object of the Act,” Mr
Morrin said.
“This now gives legislative weight to the recently published NSW
Government integrated design policy 'Better Placed', and the seven
objectives that establish a policy framework for defining, assessing and
achieving 'good design'.
“The Institute applauds this very welcome innovation, as it places good
design alongside other economic and social objectives in the creation of
sustainable communities."
To download a copy of the Better Placed policy, please visit http://www.governmentarchitect.nsw.gov.au/thinking/integrated-design-policy
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Source: NSW Government - www.planning.nsw.gov.au
Contact: mediaunit@planning.nsw.gov.au
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