Calls for at least 10 per cent of housing surrounding Northern Beaches Hospital to be affordable

AT LEAST 10 per cent of housing surrounding the new Northern Beaches Hospital should be allocated to developers willing to build a mix of key worker and affordable housing, according to one expert.

Link Housing CEO Andrew McAnulty calls on the government to offer up more affordable housing around the hospital. Picture: Virginia Young

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THE head of a housing no-for-profit organisation has said at least 10 per cent of housing around the new Northern Beaches Hospital needs to be less expensive for key workers and affordable housing.

Link Housing chief executive Andrew McAnulty called on the Northern Beaches Council to think “more strategically” around housing.

The push follows concerns raised by Davidson MP Jonathan O’Dea who told the Manly Daily he was concerned a delayed structure plan for the hospital would leave its workers with less housing options.

The plan has been delayed for more than a year as the council and government departments try to agree on the best use of the land.

Northern Beaches interim general manager Mark Ferguson. Picture: Annika Enderborg.

Link Housing is a not-for-profit that offers affordable and social housing rent across Sydney. Mr McAnulty said the “unprecedented investment in infrastructure and health” should be met with housing for people who are working in the area. He said the rezoning should make it clear that a portion of the land be for affordable housing.

“In the context of the northern beaches, I am talking key worker housing, it could be some housing for very low income earners, a small proportion, and then some low and more moderate income,” he said.

The council’s general manager Mark Ferguson said they were still working on the plan, but “the provision of affordable housing is being considered”.

Land rezoned for affordable housing, would be worth less to a developer, but could still provide a decent return for landowners.

“People need to benefit, but when there is $500 million worth of road upgrades, some of that should be public benefit,” he said.

“Whoever owns the land has had a massive windfall, and they deserve it. But don’t pass it all on to the lucky land owner.”

He argued that a house worth $1 million could be worth $2.5 million if rezoned for bulk affordable housing.

“If there is an amalgamated 20 lots that can produce $500 million, give the group $450 million and put $50 million onto a developer who will build affordable, or key worker housing,” he said.

He said the accommodation could be a blend of units and terraces for rent purchase.

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