The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Untitled design (8)
FIRST RELEASE TICKETS ON SALE FOR URBANITY-25 THE UNMISSABLE EVENT FOR PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC
FIRST TICKETS ON SALE FOR URBANITY-25 UNMISSABLE FOR PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS
SEE DETAILSDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Partner Lab
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
print
Print
Affordable & Social HousingVanessa CrollWed 13 Nov 24

Redfern Social Housing ‘Game-Changer’ Goes Public

Partnering with Homes NSW, Bridge Housing has submitted the Development Application for 600-660 Elizabeth Street Redfern

A 355-home proposal has been filed for inner Sydney as demand for affordable housing continues to outstrip supply across New South Wales.

Bridge Housing has filed plans for a four-building scheme at 600-660 Elizabeth Street that would offer social, affordable and disability-supportive housing at a scale rarely seen in the inner city.

Bridge Housing chief executive Laurie Leigh said the project was a “beautiful and very significant development” that was years in the making.

“It’s a project Bridge has been working on in the past couple of years since we were successful in obtaining the site,” she said.

Construction is planned to begin later next year before completion in early 2028.

The Redfern development, designed in partnership with Homes NSW, is aimed at those hit hardest by the housing shortage: women and children escaping domestic violence, older women at risk of homelessness, Aboriginal households and essential workers often priced out of the area.

Redfern Bridge Housing aerial view
▲ A render of the 355-homes proposal at Redfern.

Leigh said Bridge Housing was pursuing multiple sources, including local, state and federal government funding, as well as institutional investors and its own capital.

“We’re really looking at a range of sources,” she said, adding that there’s been “a resurgence of interest” in the social and affordable housing sector.

She attributed this interest to the sector’s stable cash flows, making it “something that’s attractive to all of those different types of investors”.

Redfern Bridge Housing social housing
▲ The project features a mix of social, affordable and disability support housing.

Leigh said there was an urgent need for projects of this kind and size.

“Clearly we are in a time where the need for social and affordable housing, as well as the general need for housing, has never been higher,” she said.

“We can see that with the stress on homelessness services and the cost of living for people just trying to make ends meet.”

Leigh said to ensure affordability into the future, rents would be adjusted based on income.

The design of the project has been led by Hayball, Silvester Fuller, Architecture AND and Aspect Studios, and incorporates insights from Redfern’s Aboriginal community.

Yerrabingin, a Sydney-based Indigenous cultural consultancy, facilitated a Designing with Country approach, ensuring the development respects and reflects the area’s cultural heritage.

Calling the project a “first” for a community housing provider acting as the primary developer on a project of this scale, Leigh said the Redfern development would be closely watched and could be replicated in future urban renewal projects within and beyond NSW.

Sustainability was also a focus in the designs, with solar panels planned and a commitment to achieving five-star environmental ratings across all buildings.

Redfern Bridge Housing social housing
▲ The local First Nation community had input into what they would like to see around the project.

The proposal also includes a new community facility to replace the old PCYC and a Bridge Housing head office, allowing the organisation to provide onsite support for residents.

NSW housing and homelessness minister Rose Jackson said the project was a model for collaboration in tackling housing needs.

“Elizabeth Street Redfern is a prime example of how the community housing sector, through organisations like Bridge Housing, are working in partnership with government and the private sector to deliver social and affordable housing at scale and make a swift impact to the state’s housing crisis,” she said.

The plan is open for community feedback until December 4.

ResidentialNew South WalesPlanningProject
AUTHOR
Vanessa Croll
The Urban Developer - Journalist
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
MONARK co-founders Michael Kark (CEO) and Adam Slade-Jacobson (CIO)
Exclusive

Finding the Sweet Spot: How Monark Built its $2bn Property Empire

Leon Della Bosca
6 Min
Exclusive

Sydney’s Fear of Heights Holding Back Housing

Vanessa Croll
6 Min
North Melbourne Craigieburn HB Land EDM
Exclusive

Tribunal Finding Cruels 1000-Home Melbourne Plan

Clare Burnett
5 Min
Roseville Hycorp EDM
Exclusive

Ku-ring-gai TOD Backflip Slashes 1500 Homes from Under-Way Developments

Clare Burnett
7 Min
Exclusive

Housing Fix Sprint Begins with New Top Planner Pushing 13 Regional Plans

Phil Bartsch
8 Min
View All >
Sponsored

Carpet Zones Bring Clarity to Open Layouts

Partner Content
Indroo Verso 53 Coonan Street DA hero
Development

Tower Pitched as Brisbane’s Inner-West Regains Steam

Phil Bartsch
Labrador Midrise Whiting Street DA hero
Residential

Labrador Scheme Joins Gold Coast Midrise Surge

Phil Bartsch
The latest proposal is for 17 apartments across an eight storey building at Labrador...
LATEST
Interiors

Carpet Zones Bring Clarity to Open Layouts

Partner Content
4 Min
Indroo Verso 53 Coonan Street DA hero
Development

Tower Pitched as Brisbane’s Inner-West Regains Steam

Phil Bartsch
3 Min
Labrador Midrise Whiting Street DA hero
Residential

Labrador Scheme Joins Gold Coast Midrise Surge

Phil Bartsch
2 Min
MONARK co-founders Michael Kark (CEO) and Adam Slade-Jacobson (CIO)
Exclusive

Finding the Sweet Spot: How Monark Built its $2bn Property Empire

Leon Della Bosca
6 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/bridge-housing-sydney-affordable-housing-game-changer-nsw