NSW Government confirms minimum apartment sizes
Following recent uncertainty, NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes last week confirmed that the State Government will retain minimum apartment sizes to provide clarity for the community, councils and industry.
The Minister said his decision will support good design, housing affordability and supply throughout NSW. He added that the decision is consistent with approaches in other global cities such as London and New York.
“This decision will provide much needed clarity for homebuyers, the property industry and councils. It will help deliver high quality apartments and help increase housing supply,” Mr Stokes said.
The minimum apartment sizes for studios, one, two and three bedroom apartments will be:
- Studios – 35 square metres;
- 1 bedroom apartments – 50 square metres;
- 2 bedroom apartments – 70 square metres; and
- 3 bedroom apartments – 90 square metres.
A new Apartment Design Guide will make it clear that these minimum internal areas include only one bathroom, with additional bathrooms increasing the minimum apartment size by 5 square metres each.
A fourth bedroom and further additional bedrooms increase the minimum apartment size by 12 square metres each.
“If there is market demand, clearly apartments can be bigger than the minimum size,” Mr Stokes said.
The NSW Government’s review of the planning policy governing the design of quality residential development is almost complete and is due to be released shortly.
Source: News Release, New South Wales Government, 19 May, 2015