Neighbours lose appeal rights in new laws to slash planning approval times

The new streams for homes, duplexes, townhouses and lower-density apartments would require no notice and have no avenue for third-party appeals.

For the third stream – which includes large developments such as high-rise apartments – only people directly affected, like neighbours, will get notice of the application and have a right to appeal.

“Commonsense appeal rights that simply makes sure that people who live a long way from where the project is being built, the home is being built, shouldn’t have the opportunity to stop those projects, those homes being built,” Allan said.

The proposed laws would also remove parliament’s ability to revoke any amendments to the planning scheme made by the planning minister.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said new homes shouldn’t be delayed by people who don’t live anywhere near a proposal.

“We’re fixing a planning system that’s been slowing things down,” she said.

The state government has been locked in an “anti-NIMBY” campaign to boost housing supply since September 2023, when it first revealed plans to create activity centres, which make it easier to build high density developments is key locations near trains stations.

Allan has sought to label the opposition as “blockers” after the Coalition railed against the activity centre precincts, notably when Brighton MP James Newbury – then the opposition planning spokesman – joined a protest in the affluent bayside suburb last year.