Gosford: Plans lodged for 6-storey affordable housing unit block in Gertrude St

Plans have been lodged to demolish a row of two-storey units in Gosford to make way for a six-storey affordable housing apartment block with rents capped at $420 a week.

Modern, open plan, two-bedroom units with a basement car park, secure access and a balcony or ground floor courtyard just 750m from Gosford Station for under $420 a week.

It might sound too good to be true but that is the hope of new plans lodged with Central Coast Council to demolish an old trip of two-storey units on Gertrude St and replace them with a stylish six-storey affordable housing block.

However not all of the proposed 16 apartments within the six-storey building slated for 176 Gertrude St would be for affordable housing.

Of the 12 two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units, a total of nine would be set aside for affordable housing under the relevant planning controls which would cap rents at below 30 per cent of the area’s media household income.

Or put another way, the rents would be capped at below the Central Coast’s median weekly rent for a two-bedroom unit of $420 as of the December quarter of 2021.

Under the plans the units would feature basement level parking for 18 cars, nine bicycles and a bin area.

The ground floor would contain two, two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit with generous ground floor terraces up to 25sq m leading out to a private courtyard.

The following three floors would comprise of a mix of two and three-bedroom units designed with open plan living/dining/kitchen areas, bathroom, master ensuite, laundry and balcony.

The top two floors would boast two, three-bedroom, two-storey units with internal stairs, open plan living and balconies off the lower floor.

Two three-bedroom apartments would take up the top two floors and boast generous balconies. Picture: supplied

The stepped designed would give the building the appearance of a four-storey building from the street with the overall height still within the 24m limit applicable under the site’s existing zoning.

The development application’s social impact states the affordable housing proposal is designed for low to moderate income singles, couples or young families rather than “social housing” for those on welfare.

“The proposal responds to the housing affordability problems faced by low to moderate income households by providing a more affordable housing option,” the social impact statement reads.

“Further, the proposal provides a suitable housing option for single person households, young professionals, and young working people/young families in the process of saving for a house, a demographic that is not reflected in the available housing stock.”