NSW Releases $1 Housing Designs to Speed up Approval Process

The average cost of a home in New South Wales is now just over $1.2 million.

People stand atop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as ferries sail past the Sydney Opera House during summer on Feb. 11, 2025. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

The New South Wales government has released eight architect-designed, low-rise house designs for just $1 as part of a push to deliver faster, cheaper, and more sustainable housing.

The initiative, known as the NSW Housing Pattern Book, offers designs for terrace houses, townhouses, semi-detached homes, and a manor-style dwelling. While the designs will be available at a heavily discounted rate for the first six months, the price will eventually be $1,000 each.

“The price for each design is a significant discount on the professional fees for a custom architecturally designed home that could be estimated to cost over $20,000,” the NSW government said.

Each purchase includes a free garden landscape plan tailored to local climate and biodiversity.

The eight designs were selected from an international competition in 2024. They are intended to be flexible to suit different family sizes and housing needs.

In November 2024, Minns announced multiple designs had won a competition after they came up with layouts he described as “quintessentially Sydney.”

‘Practical Step’: Premier

Premier Chris Minns said the pattern book would give people more choice and help them get into the housing market faster.

“This fast-tracked pathway will create the opportunity for these architect-designed homes to commence construction within ten days of an application being made, subject to all appropriate assessments being completed,” the government said.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said much of Sydney was built on pattern books.

“They look great, they’re simple and cost-effective,” he said. “The book takes the guesswork and the delay out of home-building.”

Government Architect NSW Abbie Galvin said the designs were intended for use by the development industry, architects, planners, councils, and communities.

“We are making it quicker and easier to build new low-rise homes that offer housing diversity for the whole community,” she said.

“The pattern book offers practical and sustainable designs that can be adapted to suit many neighbourhoods, positively contributing to the character of a street.”

The government will also roll out an advertising campaign to promote the pattern book to homebuyers and builders.

The average cost of a home in NSW is more than $1.2 million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Opposition Raises Infrastructure Concerns

However, Acting Opposition Leader Damien Tudehope questioned whether infrastructure would keep up with the fast-tracked housing rollout.

“Do we have sufficient infrastructure, whether that be water and electricity? Are there schools and hospitals available?” he told Nine News. “All those things impact the level of housing in communities.”

Recently, the NSW Opposition also raised concerns that taxes and charges on new housing continue to be at record levels.

“Labor isn’t solving the housing crisis—it’s taxing it,” the Opposition said.