Housing affordability crisis inspires new approach in Penrith

A “new approach” to affordable housing is set to be unveiled in Sydney’s west with an apartment tower, complete with a cinema and shared workspace, to cater to low income and essential workers.

A nine storey apartment block from a top developer is opening up in Penrith with units set aside for NDIS recipients, low income and essential workers in a bid to ease mounting pressures of the housing crisis.

The unit block – named Navali and located on Lord Sheffield Circuit – is a partnership from developers Urban Property Group and community housing provider Link Wentworth, which say, in a joint statement, the companies aim is to “deliver a new approach to affordable housing”.

“The units set aside exclusively as affordable housing are fitted out to the same high standard as the rest of the complex, giving tenants the right to a safe, affordable home that gives them a sense of pride,” the statement said.

Twenty six out of the 163 units will be allocated to affordable housing tenants supported by Link Wentworth’s Affordable Housing Team, which work with private property owners, investors and local government to ensure subsidised rents of up to 75 per cent of the private market rate.

The complex is located near essential services and offers one, two and three bedroom apartments with a co-working space, communal kitchen, communal cinema and communal vegetable garden.

An exterior view of apartment block ‘Navali’ Source: Urban Property Group

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said developments like Navali were a major step towards addressing Australia’s housing crisis.

“Housing is an important social determinant of health and everyone has the right to a safe affordable home that gives them a sense of pride,” he said.

The kitchen and dining areas inside a Navali unit

The kitchen and dining areas inside a Navali unit

“Through our partnership with Link Wentworth we hope to grow and expand our affordable housing portfolio allowing more essential workers access to housing near where they work.”

It comes as not for profit organisation Homelessness NSW, which provides leadership on homeslessness issues across NSW, warned the worsening housing crisis would require 5000 new social homes to be built every year for the next decade, with at least 200,000 homes extra homes needed by 2050.

Navali will be officially open on Friday by Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Tanya Davies MP.