Delivering affordable housing through the planning system in urban renewal contexts: converging government roles in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales

Ryan van den Nouwelant, Gethin Davison*, Nicole Gurran, Simon Pinnegar, Bill Randolph

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper outlines the current Australian policy environment for delivering affordable housing in urban renewal contexts. An increasing shift towards infill development, coupled with a decreasing provision of government-owned social housing, is placing severe pressure on housing affordability. The cumulative effect is to create the need for governments to intervene on urban renewal projects to ensure that affordable housing options are delivered as a part of any new development. Three different approaches to planning for affordable housing in three states are examined: the former Urban Land Development Authority in Queensland, the 15% inclusionary zoning requirement in South Australia and the Affordable Rental Housing State Environmental Planning Policy in New South Wales. Despite significant differences between these approaches, a number of potential roles emerge for government to support delivery of affordable housing by market and not-for-profit housing providers, without adversely affecting development viability. These roles are as the land facilitator, educator, risk taker, subsidiser and long-term planner. Given that one aim of current policy directions is to reduce the role of government in delivering housing and urban growth, the paper concludes by considering the extent to which the approaches across the three states studied can be considered successful.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)77-89
Number of pages13
JournalAustralian Planner
Volume52
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Apr 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute [grant number 70691] and the City of Sydney Council.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Keywords

  • affordable housing
  • Australia
  • planning
  • policy reform
  • urban renewal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Urban Studies

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