Changes to planning laws as part of the NSW Government’s housing affordability plans have been described as the “biggest devolution” of power in years.

The Berejiklian Government’s housing affordability plan includes a proposal to allow councillors from individual wards to determine planning controls for their area.

Under the proposal, Housing Minister Anthony Roberts would be able to deliver directions under section 117 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to force council wards to develop their own Local Environment Plans.

“This is the biggest reform by way of empowering local communities and neighbourhoods that has ever been put up before,” Mr Roberts said.

Most Sydney councils comprise individual wards, like Liverpool Council, which includes councillors from a north ward and a south ward. After amalgamations last year, some new councils now contain significantly more wards than before.

Mr Roberts says his plans are designed to enable “councillors if they so choose … to develop their own LEPs within a council”.

“Everyone's got to be involved,” he said.

President of the NSW Local Government Association, Keith Rhoades, says whole councils should have to agree on the shape of a particular ward LEP.