The Victorian Government has announced a new plan to deliver better homes faster by rewarding designs for housing that stand out in quality, aesthetics and sustainability.
Victorian Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny and Member for Albert Park Nina Taylor visited the Ferrars & York six-storey apartment building in South Melbourne to announce a turbocharged plan for Victoria’s future homes that is designed to drive a new era of affordable architectural heritage in this state. The plan will compel good design by:
- Rewarding affordable, well-designed buildings – and the developers who put in the effort to build them – by granting them a fast track through the planning system
- Expanding the ‘design book’ of great designs by including existing buildings that have made a mark and are loved by residents and the community
- Letting Victorians have their say for the first time on how Victoria’s streetscapes and buildings should look
- Building real life examples of ‘design book’ homes on government-owned land so Victorians can see and feel them – and then move in
The government has said that the system shouldn’t be set up to reward buildings that detract from Victoria’s stand-out history of architectural diversity or won’t stand up in quality or sustainability.
This plan is set to promote, reward and speed up the construction of townhouses and apartment buildings that are high quality, both visually and structurally.
The government will introduce a new, fast-tracked pathway for buildings with homes that meet the test of build quality, good design and sustainability – so developers can build better homes without the additional costs and delays associated with projects that might look a bit ‘different from the norm’.
The Great Design Fast Track will be developed by the Minister for Planning to focus on townhouse and apartment projects of three to six storeys in height. It is intended to apply statewide and work in a similar way to the current Development Facilitation Pathway (DFP) that exists for more significant housing projects.
As with the current DFP, locals would retain the right to know what’s going on and have their say. The DFP accelerates a project through that system, giving confidence to developers that their cost-sensitive projects won’t get stuck in an expensive state of limbo.
Through this fast track, Victoria can give a stronger arm to architects and developers who put in an effort and take on more personal risk by building projects that look great and add lasting value to streets and communities.
The government will expand its State Design Book of ‘future homes’ – projects that are planned on paper alongside artists’ impressions but don’t yet exist – by welcoming into its pages the best examples of good, affordable designs that are already in the ground, home to Victorians and loved by locals.
While the State Government is producing such a design book, which is on track for completion by the end of 2024, the book will be more useful through the inclusion of high-quality developments that are already complete – at a scale up to six storeys. It will be a showcase of great buildings that were realistic and viable to deliver.
Eligible designs will be required to encourage sustainable, family friendly and accessible homes, with communal spaces and gardens. Examples of homes that could feature include the beautiful Balfe Park Lane, which delivered 72 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments with a big communal backyard in East Brunswick.
The design book will also establish best practice principles and guidance for well-designed apartments and townhouses – to guide developers and give communities confidence about the long-term quality of new homes.
The design book will also be open to the public for them to nominate great buildings they live in or love – which they think meet the good design criteria and deserve to be replicated across the state.
Never before have Victorians had this kind of say on the future architectural ‘look and feel’ of their streets, other than through the power of their own purchase.
The State Government will also help to get these well-designed buildings in the air by securing government-owned land for innovative ‘demonstration’ developments to stand on.
The developments will have to demonstrate high quality design, liveability and sustainability, including modern methods of construction. This will be built into the expression of interest process for industry. The demonstrator buildings can then go on to become homes for Victorians to buy or rent.
Victorian Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, said that the community deserves affordable buildings that look great on the outside and feel solid as a rock on the inside.
“Our plan is for more grand designs but without the grand cost,” Minister Kilkenny said.
“We have an incredible opportunity before us to renew our suburbs and streets with well-designed apartments and townhouses that are great for singles, families and downsizers – and which add to the architectural fabric of our state.”
Member for Albert Park, Nina Taylor, said, “Our community has so many wonderful examples of good, solid and stunning buildings that are accessible for buyers and renters on different budgets – that’s exactly what we want more of.”
AAA response
The Australian Apartment Advocacy (AAA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement to fast-track affordable apartment delivery in the state, cutting development approval times from 12 months to three.
AAA CEO Samantha Reece said that there was a dire need for affordable homes, with the apartment market tending to focus on premium projects in these uncertain construction times.
“This is good news for buyers and developers who are focused on delivering three-bedroom apartments in the $650,000 – $750,000 price range,” Ms Reece said.
“However, the government needs to match this with Home Warranty Insurance which currently is capped at three storeys.
“The last thing we want to see is families take the option of an apartment over a stand-alone home and then have to cop the cost of expensive defects because the builder has gone bust.”
A selection criterion to weed out unscrupulous builders, which focuses on longevity of the business tenure and its lack of consumer complaints, would further add to ensuring buyers received what they expected.
“There are already some great companies delivering affordable homes, not only just at purchase but throughout the duration due to cross ventilation, renewable energies and the like, and as such the Victorian Government should also approach those companies that have accolades in this arena including Nightingale Housing.”
