Bathurst Blog

Provision of affordable housing in new development projects, land subdivisions and rezoning releases is increasingly proving that more needs to be done to provide a greater range of affordable housing options.

A recent very large land release in the northern beaches area included such a provision. Affordable housing means that it is available for those who qualify under a government scheme, but who could not otherwise afford housing. But there are two sides to every issue, and in some communities there were fears that the advent of affordable housing in their vicinity would adversely affect the value of their own properties.

In an interesting article published in ‘The Conversation’ 5 Dec 16 authors Gethin Davison and Edgar Liu explored this issue. They commissioned case studies in Sydney and Brisbane, one doorstop survey conducted in Parramatta over 9 projects investigated lifestyle impact and that in Brisbane over 17 projects reported on market impact.

Although some negatives were discovered in Parramatta, the report shows 78% of residents in 8 surveyed projects had no complaints about impact on quality of life. The few negatives related mainly to individual behavioural matters. The Brisbane study relied on data from Australian Property Monitors, and showed little impact across the board.

They reported “Overall, our findings indicate that the feared impacts of affordable housing developments tend to be much greater than the actual impacts experienced once those developments are complete and occupied”.

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