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Snapshot

  • Following the passing of a reform package in late-2025, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) is undergoing significant amendment.
  • The amendments further legislate the NSW government’s push to ensure planning and environmental legislation supports the efficient delivery of housing, and demonstrate a general shift towards a risk-based approach to planning and environmental assessment in NSW.
  • This article examines the major reforms and considers their potential implications for developers, local councils and industry practitioners as the system evolves.

Almost a decade after the passing of the last set of major reforms to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (‘Act’) in 2017, developers, councils and practitioners operating in the environment and planning space are once again faced with the prospect of navigating structural reforms to the NSW planning system. Luckily, there is no accompanying renumbering this time.

The introduction of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Act 2025 (NSW) (‘Reform Act’) in September 2025 represents the culmination of a years-long consistent push by the NSW government to reform its planning and environmental legislative scheme to support the delivery of housing in accordance with its commitments under the National Housing Accord.

Now that the Reform Act has received assent and certain aspects have commenced, this article reflects on some of the key reforms and what they may mean for developers, councils and practitioners going forward.

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