Orange Local Housing Strategy Review 2027 – Orange Greenfield and Urban Capacity Analysis

Overview Orange City Council invites quotations from suitably qualified and experienced consultants to undertake the Orange Local Housing Strategy Review 2027, Greenfield and Urban Capacity Analysis. The project will assess greenfield, brownfield and infill housing capacity across the Orange Local Government Area and provide evidence-based recommendations to inform future planning controls and housing delivery to 2056. About The City of Orange has expanded beyond its original square-mile grid through successive forms of development, including modified grid layouts characteristic of post-war urban growth and rural lifestyle development at the city's edge, some of which is now being enclosed by higher-density greenfield development. This growth is intended to accommodate a projected population of 60,000 by 2056 (30 years). Council's Housing Strategy Monitor indicates that progress on greenfield rezonings has been limited, with only two of the nine candidate areas rezoned. The remaining land is affected by environmental constraints and requires significant infrastructure investment. Purpose Council staff seek an independent review of greenfield capacity based on Council staff's desktop review, and seek to review the city's brownfield/infill capacity. Recognising the city's constrained geographical area, the study should recommend ways in which Council can incentivise and encourage brownfield/infill development through recommended changes to planning controls and engineering standards. Objectives Orange City Council is commissioning an integrated study in line with the NSW Local Housing Strategy Guideline 2018 that addresses the following: Housing supply to 2056 consistent with projected population and dwellings to be supplied by Council Test and verify Council's greenfield land desktop assumptions and analysis, with the aim to increase dwelling yields on greenfield sites acknowledging constraints identified by Council staff Investigate capacity constraints within the housing market and recommend options Council could pursue to address this issue on an ongoing basis Undertake a development capacity analysis across the urban area of Orange based on an initial desktop analysis provided by Council staff and identify key sites/areas and development opportunities along key transit corridors, activity corridors and key movement routes Scope The scope includes: A site visit comprising an in-person meeting with Council staff and a visit to greenfield candidate areas and key urban sites Greenfield capacity analysis, assessing realistic capacity taking account of heritage, slope, flooding, lot fragmentation, bushfire and other constraints Urban (brownfield/infill) capacity assessment, including three growth scenarios (low, medium, high), identification of priority areas for medium-density uplift, and drafting of LEP/DCP clauses Presentations to the Project Control Group, the Executive Leadership Team and Councillors (online) Optional portions comprising community, industry and internal engagement (Part D), and preparation of the Orange Local Housing Strategy Review and Implementation Plan (Part E) Preparation of an Inception Report covering methodology, data needs and assumptions, including findings from the site visit Preparation of a Greenfield and Brownfield/Infill Development Capacity Assessment Report, including the three growth scenarios identified Preparation of an optional Engagement Report and Local Housing Strategy Preparation of a GIS Data Package, including all spatial layers, maps and metadata Presentation of findings to Council's Project Control Group, Executive Leadership Team and Councillors Contract Terms and Conditions A 15-week delivery timeframe is anticipated, excluding a 3-week Christmas shutdown period