PWDA responds to the NSW Building Commissioner on the Livable Design Silver Standard
5 March 2025
PWDA recently attended the Livable Housing Roundtable, hosted by the NSW Building Commissioner James Sharrad. The discussion focused on whether the NSW Government will sign on to the Livable Design Silver Standard, a key goal of the Building Better Homes Campaign to ensure all new homes are accessible for people with disability.
PWDA co-chairs the Building Better Homes Campaign with the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) where we call on all States and Territories in Australia to adopt the National Construction Code (NCC) for all new dwellings, which includes the mandatory Livable Housing Design Silver Standard. This standard provides a minimum level of accessibility for people with disability, reducing the need for expensive modifications to enable access.
The NSW Government is considering four options:
- Do nothing
- Move to voluntary standards
- Adopt the Silver Standard with some exemptions (e.g. small sites, flood-prone areas)
- Full adoption of the Silver Standard
In previous submissions we have also called for all housing for essential workers, all homes built in Transport Oriented Design precincts, and all NSW Pattern Book Designs to conform with NCC standards.
PWDA supports option 3: Adopt the Design Standards with exemptions’ that would entail the government committing to the adoption of the design standards for livable housing throughout NSW for Class 1a (Dwellings) and Class 2 (Sole Occupancy Units – apartment buildings) developments.
Adoption could also be supported by additional tailored exemptions for certain developments subject to site complications or restraints. If adopted, commencement options can be considered including a delay to commencement in acknowledgement of the potential impact on operations and customer contracts.
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