In 2015 the NSW Department of Planning and Environment commissioned The Australia Institute to assess the economic costs and benefits of policy changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) (Codes SEPP).

One change was to expand the use of Complying Development Certificates (CDCs), which speed assessment processes for types of development that can demonstrate that they entirely comply with planning regulations.

The other main change was for an education program to expand the use of CDCs through an education program.

While the proposed changes to expand CDC use brings some risks, increasing CDC uptake through education and simplification is likely to deliver substantial economic benefits to NSW. Although modest in comparison to the overall size of the construction sector, the proposals represent a positive step towards a more efficient planning process.