Related press releases
Related research
Affordable housing options as a condition of approval for redevelopment to higher density in central urban areas
:: 15 May, 2007
Developers should be obliged to include affordable housing options in all major urban developments, a University of Sydney academic will argue today.
The University of Sydney's Dr Nicole Gurran will be speaking about metropolitan planning in Melbourne today alongside Wendell Cox, one of the world's leading proponents of urban sprawl and loose planning controls.
"It's true that containing land release on the fringes of cities can lead to higher house prices, but there is little point in cheaper houses if they are in poorly serviced regions, and the development comes with high environmental and social costs," said Dr Gurran.
"A much better solution would be to ensure that developers must include affordable housing options as a condition of approval for redevelopment to higher density in central urban areas," said Dr Gurran, a lecturer and researcher with the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).
"Good planning promotes urban amenity (like efficient transportation or attractive streetscapes), which in turn ensures that ongoing investment in residential (or other) development is a viable and enticing proposition."
"The amenity, accessibility, services, and cultural vitality of global cities attract investment and people, so housing is more expensive. But instead of allowing inner cities to decay and outer suburbs to sprawl - it's better to provide affordable housing as part of metropolitan renewal and redevelopment."
"There are compelling economic arguments in favour of affordable housing policies too. Prosperous global cities need to house essential workers like teachers, mechanics, nurses, and those in the tourism and hospitality industries. Social diversity itself appears to stimulate economic vitality, as shown by Richard Florida's research on the 'creative class' and their contribution to wealth creation."
"That's why cities like London, which require up to 50% of inner redevelopment projects to be affordable, have contained growth while still providing low cost housing for key workers."
Dr Gurran is the author of Australian Urban Land Use Planning, released by Sydney University Press last week.To obtain a copy of the book contact Susan Murray-Smith (9036 6442).
Release link: http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newscategoryid=3&newsstoryid=1715
