Back in November 2024, the NSW Government announced the winners of the NSW Pattern Book Design Competition – six housing designs confirmed as the future of fast-build, affordable, and sustainable housing across the state. From July 30, 2025, those designs (plus an additional two) will begin to come to life, with the NSW Government announcing the roll-out of the low-rise designs alongside a fast-tracking pathway to speed up the delivery of new homes.
The NSW Pattern Book Design Competition was launched in an effort to help address NSW’s housing crisis. The concept involved selecting six sustainable housing models that could be built quickly and efficiently, allowing developers to bypass many of the approval processes that often delay construction. In late 2024, six designs were chosen – ranging from terraces to mid-rise apartments – based on their accessibility, environmental sustainability, affordability, and "adaptability to changing lifestyle needs."
Since then, the Government Architect has officially endorsed eight terrace, townhouse, and manor house designs. To help subsidise the roll-out of these new housing models, the designs will be made available to developers for just $1 per pattern. After the six-month mark, they’ll be priced at $1,000 each (still significantly cheaper than bespoke designs, which typically cost around $20,000). As well as being more affordable than most architectural housing plans, the eight approved designs will benefit from a 10-day approval pathway, allowing construction to start faster. Each design – which can be adapted to suit different family sizes and accessibility needs – also comes with a complimentary landscape pattern to help homeowners create gardens that suit the local climate and maximise biodiversity.
“This Pattern Book is about giving people more choice, faster approvals, and affordable, high-quality homes – whether you’re a young person trying to get in, a family needing more space, or a downsizer looking to stay close to the community you know,” explained Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns.
The Complying Development pathway will be available from July 30, 2025. You can learn more (and maybe even choose the design of your next home) over here.
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