The state government has announced it will adopt more than 100 recommendations to make the planning system more efficient and user-friendly, following an extensive review by an expert panel.

Highlights of the supported recommendations include:

• Appeal rights for over-height developments in some circumstances.
• Stronger tree protections.
• Broader heritage protection with improved design guidelines.
• More demolition controls.
• Increased car parking provisions.
• Improving incentives to encourage a greater provision of affordable housing.

The Planning System Implementation Review Panel made 113 recommendations in total; the state government fully supported 63 of them for implementation.

It has supported 13 in principle; 36 in principle, but require further investigation; and one has not been supported.

Two members of the panel – Chair John Stimson and Lisa Tebura - have been appointed to the State Planning Commission to provide continuity and oversight to the intent of the panel’s recommendations.

To enable the Department for Trade and Investment to implement the Expert Panel’s recommendations, the state government has approved expenditure of $450,000 from the Planning and Development Fund to resource amendments to the regulations and the Code.

It expects to take around 18 months to implement the recommendations.

The final report of the panel and government’s response is available on the Plan SA website.

The State Planning Commission is now seeking feedback on the Community Engagement Charter that sets the framework for engaging with communities on strategic planning decisions such as Code Amendments and the Regional Plan for Greater Adelaide.

A fact sheet is available online.

It will run two online information sessions on these proposed changes on Tuesday 16 April from 2pm to 3pm and Thursday 9 May from 10.30am to 11.30am.

Registration for these online information sessions and further information can be found at the SA Gov YourSay website.