‘Gentle density’ is on the rise in a number of states and that’s a good thing, according to new research released this week by the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
“Australia’s housing crisis won’t be solved without increasing medium density dwellings, particularly in our larger cities”, says Sam Heckel, HIA Executive Director Planning.
“Gentle density projects such as townhouses, duplexes and terrace homes, can deliver more homes faster and at prices people can afford.”
Heckel says that while detached homes and apartments have been dominating much of the new housing stock, gentle density bridges the divide between these two housing types and is now being considered as a viable alternative.
“The star performers include Western Australia (up 63 per cent), South Australia (up 36.7 per cent), Queensland (26.2 per cent) and New South Wales (18.8 per cent)”, Heckel notes.
“We expect New South Wales to continue to be a standout, with its recently released ‘pattern book’ of pre-approved housing designs streamlining approvals and cutting red tape. By giving builders and landowners pre-endorsed designs, they’re providing the certainty the industry needs to unlock smaller, smarter projects.
“It’s exactly the sort of practical reform other states should adopt if we’re serious about tackling the housing shortage. With rising building and planning costs for apartments and new greenfield development stalled by infrastructure and environmental barriers, gentle density is a vital solution for governments to meet housing targets.”
Despite its clear benefits, HIA says planning rules in many regions still make smaller-scale projects unnecessarily difficult. Up to three-quarters of residential land is zoned only for single houses, and where gentle-density housing is permitted it often faces the same drawn-out approvals as much more complex and larger projects.
“Councils are regularly adding larger setbacks, deep-planting requirements and parking minimums that, while well-intentioned, render many projects commercially unviable”, Heckel says, adding that HIA is calling on all jurisdictions to review their planning systems and fast-track measures that support gentle density, ensuring more Australians can access well-located, affordable homes sooner.