Housing Pattern Book starting to ‘bear results’: Taskforce
The peak body for the nation’s property developers has credited the NSW government’s Housing Pattern Book with helping to lift building activity in the 12 months to June.
THE NSW government’s pattern book of low-rise house designs has contributed to a sharp lift in building activity across the state, developer lobby group Urban Taskforce said.
NSW in July launched the Housing Pattern Book that comprises eight options on offer for home builders and are temporarily available to use for just $1.
The government claims the designs will speed up the delivery of new homes in NSW as it works to deliver on its ambitious pledge of 377,000 new homes by 2029.
Urban Taskforce said in a statement that the pattern book was a contributor to positive Australian Bureau of Statistics housing data released this month that showed “we are starting to turn the corner when it comes to housing supply”.
There were 46,724 housing commencements nationwide in 2024/25, an increase of 6,377 on the previous corresponding period, the ABS data showed.
Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest said the NSW Housing Pattern Book was a key measure helping to address a shortfall in supply.
“We’ve seen Tier 1 and Tier 2 transport-oriented development opportunities, low- and medium rise residential rezoning, infill affordable housing bonuses, the introduction of the barrier-busting Housing Delivery Authority and the Investment Delivery Authority, the commencement of the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee, and the introduction of the Pattern Book to streamline approvals,” he said. “These policies are beginning to bear results.”
The office of NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully did not immediately respond to a request for comment on take-up of the pattern book since its launch in July.
Under the scheme, home owners and developers have six months to access the designs for $1 before it moves to a $1000 per pattern price, a saving of about $19,000 on the typical fees for an architect-designed home, according to local media.
The federal government said on Monday that NSW’s pattern book was a key initiative cutting red tape for home builders in the state.
“If we want more homes, we must make it easier to build them. That doesn’t mean cutting corners. It means cutting unnecessary paperwork,” Competition Minister Andrew Leigh said, according to a transcript.
