Business News

Single homes will be able to be built and modified without the approval of councils under fresh measures introduced as part of the state government’s major planning shake-up.

Premier Roger Cook and Planning Minister John Carey on Wednesday unveiled tranche two of planning reforms under which decision making for construction of and additions to single homes would be stripped from councils, a streamlined development pathway introduced for major projects, and several changes made to development assessment panels.

The move, Mr Carey said, would free councillors to focus on big-picture policies.

Many WA councils have already deferred decision making on single homes to planning staff; the new policy would simply mandate it for all councils.

To read the article in full, including comments from UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck, click here.