Overhaul of old Kurralta Park property raises supply of affordable housing

A project in Adelaide’s west has transformed a 1930s home into nine affordable community housing townhouses, complete with energy efficient design.

UnitingSA Housing’s latest community housing development is complete, providing much needed social and affordable housing.

The $3.1m project in Kurralta Park has transformed one 1930s home into nine, two and three-bedroom townhouses.

New $3.1 community housing at Kurralta Park. Picture: Supplied

The project comes at a time of great need in the community, with an Anglicare rental affordability study showing only 1.5 per cent of rental properties were affordable for people on the lowest incomes.

The first residents have moved into the Kurralta Park townhouses, which feature an energy efficient design to reduce utility costs for tenants.

The properties, designed by Marchese Partners Architects and constructed by Cook Building, are being rented to people on lower incomes who may otherwise struggle to enter the market.

UnitingSA CEO Jenny Hall said community housing developments were essential to address the shortage of affordable rental properties across South Australia.

“We know that the rental market is particularly tight and we are seeing people who have never needed support before struggling to find appropriate housing,” she said.

“Community housing developments help to provide quality, affordable housing for a range of people, including low income earners, new arrivals and single parent families.

“UnitingSA is also able to provide tenants a range of wraparound services if required, including financial counselling, employment assistance and mental health support.”

The Kurralta Park project was delivered under the SA Housing Authority’s Community Housing Asset Renewal Program, which supports the redevelopment of debentured housing stock by Community Housing Providers.

The development was also supported with a low interest loan through the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation’s inaugural social bond.

A new development to address homelessness among older women at Ferryden Park is near completion. Picture: Supplied

The development is the latest in a line of community housing projects delivered by UnitingSA Housing, with another development set to open in Ferryden Park this month and a 40-apartment complex in the pipeline for Prospect.

Once complete, the projects will bring UnitingSA’s housing portfolio to more than 600 properties.