Plans to build more than 180 units on old factory site in Belmore
A proposal to build upto 184 different sized units could help ease the housing affordability problem in this southwest suburb.
The Express
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More than 90 affordable housing units could be provided in Belmore as a part of a major housing development.
Under the paperwork lodged with the NSW Department of Planning, 184 units are to be constructed across three buildings on 677-687 Canterbury Rd and 48, Drummond St, Belmore.
Under the proposed scheme, 92 apartments would be leased and managed by a community housing provider.
Usually, affordable housing is targeted at key worker accommodation including medical and emergency staff and police. The building is to be used for a mix of residential and commercial uses.
Pacific Planning, which lodged the proposal in May 2019, also plan to build 290 car spaces and 60 spots for bicycles. Pacific Planning declined to comment on the project.
The proposal calls for 110 two-bedroom units, 55 one-bedroom units, 18 three-bedroom apartments and one studio apartment on what is an unused factory covering 7,000 sq m.
This follows a proposal made in 2014 for a 222-unit social housing complex at the same site, which did not go through.
A Canterbury Bankstown Council spokesman said they are supportive of more affordable housing because there is a real need for this in the city.
“However, what we are not supportive of is development, which is masqueraded as affordable housing, when in reality they are poorly designed with inappropriately high rent,” the spokesman said.
He said the council is working on a new policy to provide more affordable housing for current and future residents.
SUPPORTIVE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
“Overall, we are very supportive affordable housing developments, so long they are properly designed and rent is appropriately set and managed,” the spokesman said.
“A good example of this is the Kings Landing development in Roselands (which opened in August 2019).
According to a social impact study done on behalf of Pacific Planning by PPM Consulting, the Belmore area is very disadvantaged and will benefit from more affordable housing.
“Belmore suffers from a high degree of disadvantage,” the report said. “In general, the population is less educated, less engaged with the labour market and has a lower income than the rest of Canterbury Bankstown, Sydney and the state.
“With such a high degree of social and economic disadvantage, the social and economic benefits of new affordable housing will be significant.”
Belmore was announced as a Planned Precinct by the NSW Government as part of a housing affordability package in June 2017.