Communities Plus project to boost social and affordable housing in NSW

Minister for Social Housing Brad Hazzard today called for interest in delivering the new generation of world-class social, affordable and private housing in NSW.

“Communities Plus is a new generation of integrated housing developments, delivered in partnership with the private, non-government and community housing sectors in Macquarie Park along with six locations in metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW,” Mr Hazzard said.

“We are seeking genuine interest from the market to deliver the finest in urban design, construction, community engagement and tenancy services with the release of these NSW Land and Housing Corporation sites.

“We want the best of the best from across the community to deliver us homes for the future for our most vulnerable.”

The initial Communities Plus sites are:

  • The 8 hectare Ivanhoe Estate at Macquarie Park, to be transformed into a high quality integrated community with more than 1800 private dwellings, 556 social housing dwellings and 128 affordable dwellings.
  • Six sites suited for medium and high-density development delivering an estimated 550 social, affordable and private dwellings in Gosford, Newcastle, Tweed Heads, Seven Hills, Telopea and Liverpool.

Communities Plus is the start of a new way of thinking in social housing. Many of the new social housing units will be the base for pilot programs that link housing assistance to education, training and local employment opportunities. The affordable rental dwellings will also be used to transition tenants from the social housing system, through schemes supported by the community housing and social sector.

An industry briefing on 4 November 2015 is expected to attract builders, developers, financiers, community housing providers and other community service support organisations.

Interested groups should go this website.

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