The first project has been approved through the Minns Labor Government's Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway, paving the way for homes to progress to construction.
The Gordon project is one of more than 300 proposals amounting to over 102,000 potential new homes to be declared State significant following the HDA's recommendation and the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces' declaration. It has been assessed and approved in seven months, faster than the nine month average expected timeframe.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure then assessed, publicly exhibited and finalised the $110 million development under the Gordon Transport Oriented Development controls.
It will deliver two connected 7-8 storey towers with 106 apartments including affordable housing, landscaping and new communal open spaces.
Located just 200 metres from Gordon's shops, residents will also be within a five-minute walk of Gordon train station.
The proposal underwent a full assessment process and community consultation to consider its economic, environmental, and social impacts.
The project is expected to generate 165 jobs - 160 construction roles and five ongoing operational roles - delivering a jobs and housing boost to North Sydney.
The NSW Government established the HDA to help streamline the delivery of high yield, well-located homes and help the state reach its Housing Accord target.
It offers a clear planning pathway for large residential and mixed-use developments to be assessed as State significant development or State significant development with a concurrent rezoning.
The HDA builds on the Minns Labor Government's reforms to the planning system to supercharge the delivery of more homes, including:
- Passage of the landmark Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 through both houses of Parliament with almost universal support.
- The development of the NSW Pattern Book and accelerated planning pathway for those who use the pre-approved patterns.
- The largest rezoning in NSW history around transport hubs and shopping centres to address the "missing middle."
- The largest ever investment in the delivery of social and affordable housing in NSW.
- $200 million in financial incentives for councils that meet the new expectations for development applications, planning proposals and strategic planning.
- $450 million to build new apartments for essential workers including nurses, paramedics, teachers, allied health care workers, police officers and firefighters.
- The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to accelerate housing supply by reducing the risk for lenders and getting residential construction started.
Since the formation of the HDA, 146 projects have had Secretary Environmental Assessment Requirements issued and 21 projects have lodged State significant applications under the pathway.
Construction of the Gordon project is expected to begin in mid-2026.
For more information visit the Housing Delivery Authority web page.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
"Less than 12 months after setting up the Housing Delivery Authority, we're seeing major progress with the HDA pathway fast-tracking homes that will soon be under construction.
"This shows what happens when we remove roadblocks and provide clear planning pathways.
"This project was enabled under our Transport Oriented Development planning controls. This is our Government's planning reforms working together to deliver homes for families, young people and downsizers.
"We have seen housing proposals of this size and scale getting stuck in local planning systems for too long, this project was assessed and approved in seven months, less than our expected assessment timeframe of nine months."
