Housing Delivery Authority (HDA)

This information has been interpreted for residents based on publicly available information from Planning NSW' Housing Delivery Authority page.

What is the HDA?

To accelerate the delivery of homes across NSW, the NSW Government established the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) in January 2025.

The HDA is a specialist panel that considers whether major housing proposals should be treated as State Significant Developments (SSDs). Declaring a project as 'State Significant' allows it to enter a streamlined approval pathway.

The HDA’s role is to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister for Planning. It does not approve projects itself. A project only becomes an SSD if the Minister formally declares it as such.

Which projects are eligible for the HDA pathway?

Projects must generally meet these thresholds:

  • Greater Sydney: An Estimated Development Cost (EDC) of $60 million or more.
  • Regional NSW: An Estimated Development Cost (EDC) of $30 million or more.

Beyond cost, the HDA also looks for proposals that:

  • Deliver high-yield housing by focusing on known high-yield types of residential accommodation.
  • Can be assessed and constructed quickly by being more compliant and ready to commence without delay.
  • Provide quality and affordable housing by being well-located, supported by enabling infrastructure and contributing to affordable housing supply.
  • Align with rezoning policy by seeking concurrent rezoning where this helps projects progress more efficiently.

How the process works

  1. Expression of Interest (EOI): Developers submit an online application.
  2. Department review: The Department of Planning reviews the submission and provides advice to the HDA.
  3. HDA evaluation: The HDA assesses the proposal against eligibility criteria and makes a recommendation.
  4. Minister’s decision: The Minister may declare the project as SSD.
  5. Assessment stage:

    The applicant requests Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs).
    Within 9 months, the applicant must submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
    The EIS is placed on public exhibition, where residents and Council can comment.

  6. Decision: The Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission makes the final determination.

Concurrent rezonings

A key difference from the standard SSD process is that the HDA can also support concurrent rezonings.

This means that if a project requires rezoning as well as development approval, the two steps can be considered at the same time. This avoids separate rezoning processes and allows projects to move forward more quickly.

Is a State Significant declaration the same as approval?

No. The Housing Delivery Authority does not approve projects for construction.

Declaring a project as a State Significant Development (SSD) only means it is eligible to follow the streamlined pathway. Every project must still:

  • Prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
  • Go through public exhibition, where the community can make submissions.
  • Undergo a merit-based assessment that considers impacts such as traffic, density, heritage, environment and infrastructure.

The final decision is made by the Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission. Approval may come with strict conditions, require changes to the project, or in some cases, be refused altogether.

What is Council’s role?

Council does not decide on projects considered under the HDA pathway. However, Council:

  • Is formally notified when a project is declared SSD.
  • Can provide comments during the public exhibition stage.
  • May be consulted on related rezoning matters.

While Council’s feedback is considered, the final decision is made by the Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission, not Council.

Community involvement

Residents have the opportunity to provide feedback on HDA projects during the public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement. Submissions are considered alongside Council’s comments before any decision is made.

HDA EOIs in Ku-ring-gai

View mapping of EOIs through the Housing Delivery Authority

This mapped information has been interpreted for residents based on publicly available information from Planning NSW' Housing Delivery Authority page.

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