Rush of NSW aged care development applications ahead of new aged care requirements

There has been an increase in the number of development applications for care-related properties, including aged care facilities, ahead of changes to NSW building requirements due to come in on 3 July 2023. The changes – contained in the Building Legislation Amendment (Building Classes) Regulation 2023 – are  being introduced as part of the state’s push to improve building standards and public confidence in the construction sector following the damning Shergold Weir Report which looked into a series of dangerous and poor quality building projects. The changes involve broadening the scope of the Design and Building Practitioners Act to include class 3 and 9c building types – 9c buildings are residential care buildings that may contain residents with various care level needs. The Act currently only applies to class 2 buildings, which are mainly apartments. The changes will mean all design and building practitioners who work on aged care facility projects in NSW will need to be registered. The amendment relates to the construction of new buildings from 3 July 2023, and does not apply to alterations and renovations of existing class 3 or class 9c buildings until 1 July 2024. The Urban Developer is predicting the extension of the Act will cause delays and increased costs to some aged care facility projects in NSW as developers register design and building practitioners, and are required to comply with the new regulations. You can read the legislation HERE.