Plans for 14 townhouse Marshall affordable housing development

A plot of land at Marshall would be transformed into an affordable housing development comprising 14 townhouses under plans to submitted to council. See the designs.

Plans for an affordable housing development at 183 Barwarre Road, Marshall.

A plot of land at Marshall would be transformed into an affordable housing development comprising 14 townhouses under plans to submitted to council.

The 1854sq m site at Barwarre Rd currently contains one home and, according to developers, is located between two growth zones – Marshall and Armstrong Creek.

Plans for the development, submitted to the City of Greater Geelong, state the proposed houses would be “build to rent homes” designed for essential staff that work at Epworth, Deakin University and on major state government projects.

The houses would have been suitable for volunteers and athletes at the now scrapped 2026 Commonwealth Games, the plans noted.

Plans for an affordable housing development at 183 Barwarre Road, Marshall.

Supporting planning documents also say the houses could be used by National Disability Insurance Scheme participants, with rent to be set at no more than 30 per cent of the salary of low to moderate income earners or 75 per cent of the market rent, if lower.

Households must meet government guidelines to be eligible to rent the proposed properties, while management of the properties will be carried out by a professional.

If approved, there would be 14 two-storey dwellings built within seven townhouse style structures.

“The proposal seeks to provide affordable rental housing to house key workers in

the area, via a build to rent model,” the documents state.

“Therefore, the proposed housing typology provides for a new type of rental housing to the area.

“More broadly, the proposal will provide a diversity of housing option to Greater Geelong and surrounds.”

Plans for an affordable housing development at 183 Barwarre Road, Marshall.

According to the planning documents the proposed development has been architecturally designed.

Supporting documents also noted the region needed more affordable housing because, compared to Melbourne, there was a lower proportion of people earning a high income of $1750 per week or more and a higher proportion of people earning less than $500 a week.

The application is open to public comment until September 2.

Originally published as Plans for 14 townhouse Marshall affordable housing development