NSW Unveils Mid-Rise Pattern Book to Deliver 112,000 Missing-Middle Homes

The New South Wales government has launched nine new pattern book designs for mid-rise apartment buildings, aiming to accelerate the construction of 112,000 homes in the "missing middle" over the next five years. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to address the state's housing crisis by providing architect-designed blueprints and streamlining the development approval process. The move has been praised by housing advocates for its potential to boost housing supply and encourage a cohesive architectural aesthetic.

The newly released mid-rise designs encompass apartment buildings ranging from three to six storeys, with specific plans tailored for small, large, and corner lots. These energy-efficient and cross-ventilated designs, created by leading Australian and New Zealand architectural firms, are available for purchase, initially priced between $1,500 and $2,500. This significantly reduces the typical cost of architectural plans, making quality designs accessible to a wider range of developers and builders.

The pattern book initiative directly targets the "missing middle" housing gap, which refers to diverse housing types like townhouses, terraces, and mid-rise apartments that bridge the divide between detached houses and high-rise towers. Premier Chris Minns emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that "Last year, we lost 45,000 young people interstate," largely due to housing affordability issues. The pattern book seeks to provide attractive and livable options to retain residents and foster community growth.

Historically, Sydney has utilized pattern book designs, evident in its Georgian terraces and "much-loved" Art Deco and red brick walk-up apartment blocks, as noted by NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully. The contemporary designs are crafted to blend with existing neighborhoods, using traditional materials and offering flexible layouts while meeting high sustainability standards, including a 7-Star Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) rating. The government has also provided guidance to local councils to halve the average assessment time for developments utilizing these pre-approved patterns.

The mid-rise pattern book builds upon the earlier release of eight low-rise home designs in July and is integral to the government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy and Transport Oriented Development (TOD) reforms. As YIMBYLAND stated in a recent tweet, "Pattern books are a great way to encourage an architectural look in a city while also creating a streamlined path for building lots of housing." This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that new housing is not only abundant but also well-designed and integrated into the urban fabric, fostering more walkable and vibrant communities.