Design standards for social housing starting to lift
LOS ANGELES: Design standard for social housing are starting to rise as expectations start to permeate governments, architects and taxpayers.
A 17-level tower will be built in the Gold Coast’s CBD to provide 150 social and affordable homes due to a new investment fund and fast-track approval scheme.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon at an Estimates Hearing at State Parliament on Wednesday provided details on the development planned for Nerang Street, Southport, created via State Government’s Housing Investment Fund.
The designs for the project show it includes 63 social and 96 affordable units in a 17-storey tower close to local shops, services and public transport.
Brisbane Housing Company in partnership with the Queensland Investment Corporation and the Australian Retirement Trust has received State Government funding to deliver its first Gold Coast project.
“We’ve made it clear through our Homes for Queenslanders plan that we’ll pull every lever possible to help Queenslanders find a place to call home,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Through our Housing Investment Fund we’re partnering with community housing providers to deliver thousands more homes, including here in Southport.”
The announcement follows another Gold Coast project – the 200 high-rise social, affordable Southport Supported Accommodation project – receiving funding in this year’s Budget.
With funding secured, BHC has now lodged a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) to streamline approvals for the Nerang Street complex.
The MID provides an alternative pathway to local council development applications and is managed by the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works.
Consultation is now open on the project, with Ms Scanlon to make a final decision after reviewing the assessment by the Department and community consultation feedback.
This is the second social and affordable housing project to progress through the Gold Coast MID project. A 60-unit one at Nerang is being delivered in partnership with St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland and currently being assessed.
Developers in June rushed to sign up to a $350m fund where the Government will build infrastructure to get much-needed new housing estates.
It attracted more than 220 applications from developers in two weeks. It equates to potentially more than 12,000 new homes and 4000 lots – some on the Gold Coast, with others in Brisbane and far as Cooktown in the state’s north.
Of the applications received, more than 60 per cent relate to projects with development approvals that could be brought forward, from “gentle” density to medium and high-rise developments.
By covering known infrastructure costs, the fund is also expected to prevent such costs being passed on to homebuyers, promoting housing choice and improving affordability.
The department will assess applications, and where a project fails to fit the criteria, that unfunded allocation is to be released in new rounds to keep accelerating the delivery of new homes.
Government sources suggest up to 90 projects will start before the end of the year.
