25 August 2020
Griffith City Council has adopted the new Griffith Residential Development Control Plan including Subdivision and Parking Codes in an effort to reduce red tape and create a simpler process for developers.
The Griffith Residential Development Control Plan (GRDCP) was drafted to ensure the recommendations within the Griffith Housing Strategy (2019) were able to be implemented, as well as to modernise the existing development control system in Griffith.
Griffith Mayor, Councillor John Dal Broi said the GRDCP is the result of an extensive consultation process, with Council taking on the feedback to ensure this document meets the needs of our growing community.
“The Griffith Housing Strategy was adopted in 2019 and as a result, our Planning Department needed to review the existing suite of Development Control Plans to accommodate the recommendations within the Strategy,” said Councillor Dal Broi.
“Staff fast tracked the preparation of the GRDCP to ensure the recommendations could be implemented as soon as possible – amidst this housing shortage, Council would like to make it easier for developers to provide much needed accommodation.”
“The GRDCP replaces DCP21, which is approximately 20 years old. Staff are now working on the remaining DCP suite, which is anticipated to be completed within the next 6 months,” he added.
The objectives of the GRDCP are:
- To provide appropriate development control principles for the development of Griffith.
- To encourage, facilitate and promote affordable housing in accordance with the Griffith Housing Strategy 2019.
- Ensure high standards of residential development within Griffith.
- Provide for a diversity of housing opportunities and residential lifestyle choices.
- Encourage new residential development that is sympathetic to the existing streetscape and neighbourhood character of a particular locality.
Director Sustainable Development, Mr Phil Harding said recommendations from the Housing Strategy which have been added to the GRDCP include new precinct specific controls, use of floor space ratio controls to permit increased density in suitable areas, reduction of parking requirements for affordable housing and housing close to the CBD, and new controls for boarding housing, day care centres and health services.
“Council recognises there is a shortage of housing, particularly affordable housing, in the Griffith Local Government Area and we have worked to ensure we could effectively implement the recommendations outlined in the Housing Strategy within the GRDCP,” said Mr Harding.
“We aim to be a progressive Council and our Planning staff have produced a document which will assist in encouraging development in Griffith.”
You can view the GRDCP on the Council website at griffith.nsw.gov.au
