Hamilton Hills plans five-story affordable housing complex at Woodforde

An apartment development, complete with a pool and gym, would deliver resort-style living to low-income earners in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs. See the plans.

A five-story building, comprising 57 units, is being been proposed for Woodford. Source: Adelaide Hills Council

Low-income earners stand to benefit from a new resort-style development in Woodforde.

Starfish Developments has lodged plans with the Adelaide Hills Council to construct a five-storey residential flat building at Lot 228 Macintosh Crescent.

The development will be known as Hamilton Hill Club Apartments and comprise 57 dwellings, including 40 one-bedroom apartments, 16 two bedroom apartments, and one three-bedroom penthouse.

There will also be a pool, a kiosk and a gym as well as 58 parking spaces for cars and 52 for bicycles.

The subject land is also located directly opposite a large public reserve and around 100 metres from the Rostrevor College Oval.

The five-story building will include 40 homes for low-income earners.

In a report tabled to council, Future Urban director Fabian Barone said the development would have a strong focus on providing affordable living for low-income earners.

“It is important to note, for the purpose of our assessment, that all 40 of the one-bedroom dwellings will, in the first instance, be released to the affordable housing market,” he said.

“The applicant has been mandated by the State Government to set aside at least 15 per cent of the dwellings within the confines of Hamilton Hill as affordable housing (and) at present, there are only 23 such dwellings.”

According to current state government guidelines, affordable housing is designed and priced to cost people no more than 30 per cent of their gross income.

For a low-income earner on a gross yearly income of no more than $85,000, this means home ownership should be attainable at $367,000 or less, if key criteria are met.

The development will be located within walking distance to Rostrevor Collage.

Each home will feature a balcony and tenants will also have access to a pool and gym.

Morialta Residents’ Association secretary Steve Swann said the local community group had no objection to the proposal, despite previously voicing concern about the development. “Hamilton Hill should never have been allowed to develop on such a large scale … but it is now a fact of life and there is clearly a need – and a mandated requirement – for affordable housing in any new development in SA,: he said.

“So there can really be no objection to some of these dwellings being targeted at the part of the market.”

Hamilton Hill launched in 2018 and is estimated to be worth $150 million.

It will eventually be home to 400 new dwellings, with The Hamilton Hill Club Apartments forming part of Stage 3A construction.