more on 'a licence to build' from down under

image: leanne pickettThe Minister for Planning in New South Wales, Brad Hazzard, has adopted a unique approach to encouraging the construction of new housing in this Australian state. His approach? Ask the landowners and developers where they want to build and, as long as it doesn't cost the state anything, he will ensure the selected land is rezoned accordingly.

The identified land may or may not be part of a local municipality's growth plan but that appears to be a pesky detail. Similarly, the existence (or not) of necessary infrastructure is for the developer to sort out.

The full story is here in The Sydney Morning Herald and comes to this blog via The Planning Boardroom.

And to think the UK went through all that trouble to draft, seek consultations on and then publish in final form the National Planning Policy Framework...