Plans Go Public for 152-Unit SA Social Housing Block

Plans are on exhibition for a 152-unit social and affordable housing project in the inner Adelaide suburb of Eastwood. 

Housing Choices South Australia has filed plans for the development, Wirra Mikangka, in partnership with the South Australian Housing Authority, which owns the land.

Architect Hills Thalis is behind the plans for the project, which is being supported by a partnership between the South Australian Government, the Federal Government and community housing providers, which was announced in June.

As a result, a portion of the government’s $350-million Social Housing Accelerator will support the project.

“The collaboration between the community sector, State and Federal fovernments reflects the urgent need for homes to address a deepening housing crisis,” the development application said.

“This development will play a significant role in meeting an urgent housing need for affordable rental housing.”

The 5080sq m site is an amalgamation of two lots at 217-218 Greenhill Road, and has views north across Adelaide Parklands which, according to the application are “only marginally smaller than New York City’s Central Park”.

The project will be assessed by the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP). 

Housing Choices South Australia is proposing a nine, seven and five-storey building comprising two ground-floor retail components as well as 84 one, 64 two and four three-bedroom apartments. 

Plans for the site will be on notification until August 23.

The Greenhill Road site is 2.5km from the Adelaide CBD and zoned as an urban corridor, which supports a mix of medium and high-density development along main roads. 

Housing Choices is a community housing provider operating in five states. Its other SA developments include Nightingale Bowden, “an innovative and environmentally sustainable development delivering affordable homes for purchase and long-term affordable rental homes”.

Social and affordable housing has been boosted nationwide by government funding initiatives to combat the increasing costs of construction that has made it difficult for developer to make almost all residential projects stack up.

While there are concerns this will funnel investment away from the sector, a host of projects have been launched as a result, including a RenewalSA project that will deliver 12 storeys of affordable housing at Bowden. 

Meanwhile, in NSW, Billbergia is doubling down on its affordable component at Blaxland Road and City West has bought an inner city site for affordable housing.

In Queensland, affordable housing projects are in the works for the Sunshine Coast and at Southport on the Gold Coast.