The Minns Labor Government is proposing simpler, more flexible planning rules to make better use of industrial land, back investment and create jobs across New South Wales.
The proposed changes on public exhibition from today, will modernise planning controls and streamline approval pathways.
Businesses will have greater flexibility to establish and operate industrial and employment developments essential to modern economies, including distribution centres, warehouses built over several storeys and facilities supporting online retail, freight, and logistics.
Industrial land is vital to the state's economy, providing space for manufacturing, freight and logistics, and the services that keep communities and businesses running.
With demand growing for both industrial land and housing, NSW must make better use of its existing industrial and employment areas while securing the land it needs for future growth.
Well located industrial land is a finite resource, and a strong pipeline of serviced land is critical to healthy supply chains and a growing economy.
For more than a decade, the former Liberal and Nationals governments did very little to modernise the planning framework or increase the supply of industrial and employment land.
Just like the Minns Labor Government inherited housing shortages, it also inherited a shortage of serviced and available industrial land.
The Minns Labor Government released the Industrial Lands Action Plan to turn this around and set NSW back on track.
The Plan's first action, the Statewide Policy for Industrial Lands, was finalised in August, to establish a framework to manage the supply of industrial land across NSW.
This exhibition completes every action under the Plan, delivering on the Government's commitment to strengthen the planning framework for industrial land across NSW.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is also progressing separate, minor amendments to industrial land planning controls in response to stakeholder feedback.
These are expected to take effect before the end of the year.
Planning for industrial land across NSW
In addition, the Minns Labor Government has released the proposed Industrial Lands Categorisation for Regional NSW, the Central Coast and Lower Hunter, identifying industrial land by its role, scale, infrastructure connections and economic contribution.
The proposed framework classifies industrial lands as state significant, regionally significant or locally significant, guiding planning decisions so land is available in the right locations to meet future demand.
The framework sets indicative targets for development ready industrial land of:
- 50 hectares a year across the Central Coast and Lower Hunter
- 40 hectares a year across Regional NSW.
Investigation Areas have also been identified to explore opportunities to unlock additional industrial land and address infrastructure and servicing constraints.
The planning changes and the industrial lands categorisation are being exhibited separately, with both exhibitions closing at 5pm Thursday, 26 November 2026.
For more information, visit NSW Planning.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
"The Minns Labor Government is making commonsense changes to expand the industrial land our state needs to power its economy and support jobs, not just for today but for the decades ahead.
"Industrial land is the backbone of our freight and logistics networks. Every time you order an online package or have your groceries delivered, it comes through an industrial or employment zone to get to you.
"Fairer, clearer, simpler rules cut red tape, back business investment and lift productivity.
"We are making it easier to build, operate, invest, and create jobs in this state.
"With these reforms we have delivered every action in our Industrial Lands Action Plan, a stronger framework to protect, manage and grow industrial land across the state. We said we would do it and we have."
