What It Means for Development Applications

Effective from 1 September 2026, NSW has introduced a single statewide Community Participation Plan (CPP), replacing more than 100 individual council and agency participation plans previously operating across the State. This represents one of the most significant changes to public notification and consultation requirements in the NSW planning system in recent years.

The reform forms part of the broader Planning System Reforms Act 2025 and aims to create a planning system that is faster, fairer, more consistent and focused on development outcomes while still ensuring communities have opportunities to participate in planning decisions.

View the Community Participation Plan:
NSW Community Participation Plan

Why Was a New Community Participation Plan Introduced?

Previously, each council prepared and maintained its own Community Participation Plan. As a result, consultation requirements often varied significantly between local government areas.

A development that required notification in one council area may not have required notification elsewhere, creating inconsistency and uncertainty for applicants and the community. The new statewide CPP seeks to standardise these processes by establishing consistent exhibition periods and notification requirements across NSW.

The NSW Government has stated that the new framework is intended to ensure consultation is proportionate to the scale and potential impact of a proposal, while focusing community input on developments and planning decisions where it can have the greatest influence.

The Biggest Change: One Set of Rules Across NSW

From 1 September 2026, all councils and planning authorities must apply the same Community Participation Plan when undertaking planning functions. This includes development assessment, strategic planning and certain state-significant planning processes.

The reform replaces the previous system of more than 100 individual plans with a single statewide approach.

For applicants, this provides greater certainty about:

• Whether a proposal will be publicly exhibited
• How long exhibition periods will apply
• Notification requirements
• Community consultation expectations
• Assessment procedures across different council areas

Greater Focus on High-Impact Development

One of the most significant changes under the new CPP is the reduced requirement for public exhibition of lower-impact development applications.

The State Government's position is that community consultation should focus on developments that are more likely to have broader impacts on surrounding communities, while simpler and lower-impact proposals can proceed through a more streamlined assessment process.

This means many routine residential applications may no longer require public exhibition where they meet prescribed criteria.

Examples may include:

• Certain dwelling houses
• Some dual occupancies
• Secondary dwellings
• Minor alterations and additions
• Certain subdivision applications
• Some tree removal applications

provided they satisfy the relevant thresholds and exclusion criteria within the CPP.

Longer Consultation for Strategic Planning

While consultation requirements are being reduced for many lower-impact developments, the opposite is occurring for strategic planning matters.

The new CPP increases consultation periods for significant planning documents and strategic initiatives, reflecting their long-term influence on communities.

Examples include:

• State plans
• Regional plans
• District plans
• Local Strategic Planning Statements

These strategic documents may now be exhibited for longer periods, providing additional opportunities for community feedback and participation.

Standardised Notification of Complying Development

Another important change relates to Complying Development Certificates (CDCs).

The new CPP standardises neighbour notification requirements for complying development across NSW and introduces a consistent framework for advising nearby landowners before works commence.

This provides greater consistency for homeowners, neighbours, certifiers and builders, regardless of location.

What Does This Mean for Applicants?

For many property owners, developers and builders, the new CPP is likely to result in a more predictable assessment process.

Potential benefits include:

Faster Assessment Timeframes

With fewer low-impact applications requiring public exhibition, some development applications may progress through assessment more efficiently.

Greater Certainty

A consistent statewide framework makes it easier for applicants to understand consultation obligations and plan project timeframes.

Reduced Variation Between Councils

Applicants operating across multiple local government areas will no longer need to navigate substantially different community participation requirements.

Focus on Higher Risk Projects

Resources can be directed towards assessing developments that generate greater community interest or have more significant impacts.

What Does This Mean for the Community?

The new CPP does not remove community participation from the planning system.

Instead, it seeks to focus consultation on proposals where public input is likely to have the greatest value and impact.

Importantly:

• Councils still retain their own engagement strategies.
• Councils can continue to use local consultation methods.
• Strategic planning matters continue to require public exhibition.
• Major development proposals remain subject to consultation processes.

Key Takeaways

✅ A Single Statewide CPP Applies from 1 September 2026

Replacing more than 100 individual council and agency Community Participation Plans.

✅ Greater Consistency Across NSW

Public exhibition and consultation requirements are now standardised.

✅ Fewer Low-Impact Developments Require Exhibition

Many residential and lower-impact applications may no longer require public notification.

✅ Increased Focus on Strategic Planning

Longer exhibition periods now apply to major strategic planning documents.

✅ Standardised CDC Notification Requirements

Neighbour notification processes for complying development are now consistent across NSW.

✅ Councils Still Retain Local Engagement Methods

The statewide CPP sets minimum requirements but does not prevent councils from undertaking additional local engagement.

The introduction of the statewide Community Participation Plan is a significant shift in how planning consultation occurs across NSW. By standardising consultation requirements and focusing community participation where it can have the greatest impact, the reforms aim to improve certainty for applicants while maintaining meaningful opportunities for public involvement.

For developers, landowners and homeowners, understanding the new consultation framework is increasingly important when preparing Development Applications, modifications and strategic planning submissions.

At Urban Consultants, we continue to monitor planning reforms and assist clients in navigating the evolving NSW planning system through feasibility assessments, Statement of Environmental Effects reports, development applications and Planning Portal lodgements.