In the face of increasing house prices and land values, particularly within Inner Sydney, net dwelling loss policies are becoming the latest tools at a council’s disposal to conserve existing housing stock. As luxury redevelopment becomes increasingly profitable for developers; with many applying to destroy older (and more affordable) residential flat buildings and replace them with modern buildings tailored to the luxury market, reducing the number of dwellings to build larger apartments, some councils are implementing measures to retain this older stock.

The latest council to investigate a net dwelling loss policy is Woollahra. Having lost 83 dwellings in the last five years due to redevelopment, at a time when councils across Australia are being asked to do more to deliver and retain affordable housing, Woollahra has proposed a policy that would limit net dwelling loss to no more than 15% or 1 dwelling, whichever is greater, on sites with three or more dwellings. This proposal, aligned with the City of Syndey’s approach, exempts housing typologies like co-living and group homes so that housing diversity which can improve relative affordability is not adversely affected.

It is important that as both government and industry continue to push development at all costs, councils use the tools at their disposal to ensure that it is targeted density that accommodates a diverse mix of residents, so that our inner city areas do not just become a playground for the richest. We hope that both Woollahra Council and the Department of Planning can continue to further this view.
 

You can read Shelter NSW’s submission on our website.