Toowoomba social housing project run by Mission Australia planned for inner-city suburb of Newtown, near Clifford Gardens, Glennie

A large parcel of land near a major Toowoomba shopping centre and prestigious private school could be turned into nearly 200 social and affordable housing dwellings. DETAILS HERE.

A massive proposal to create nearly 200 social housing units across a development potentially nine storeys high has been floated for an inner-city Toowoomba suburb.

A large parcel of land on Princess St in Newtown, just metres from both Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre and The Glennie School, could soon be home to 185 new social and affordable housing dwellings as part of a project by developer Newtown Qld Pty Ltd.

Massive Australian charity Mission Australia has already become involved as the future operator, should the plans be approved.

If given the green light, the 5000sq m development would potentially halve Toowoomba’s waitlist for social housing and add to the more than 200 affordable and public dwellings already in the pipeline across the city.

Plans have been lodged for a massive new social and affordable housing project on Princess Street in Newtown, not far from Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre and opposite the Glennie School.

It is understood the project would feature two-thirds affordable housing (dwellings where the rent is capped at 80 per cent of the market rate), with the balance being social housing (heavily subsidised units for tenants on low income or unable to work).

While the project’s value has yet to be finalised, it is believed it could comprise two buildings ranging in height from five to nine storeys.

Apart from Glennie and Clifford Gardens, the majority of surrounding neighbours are detached dwellings with a usual height of two storeys.

The land currently features carparking and is owned by the Clifford Gardens operators Elanor Investors Group, although plans have already laid to separate the lot from ongoing council development applications that EIG has lodged.

Plans have been lodged for a massive new social and affordable housing project on Princess Street in Newtown, not far from Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre and opposite the Glennie School.

In a letter to immediate neighbours and stakeholders, town planner and project manager Ethos Urban said the proposal was necessary to address serious shortfalls in Toowoomba’s social housing supplies.

“Housing affordability is a recognised issue in many regions across Queensland and Australia, including Toowoomba,” the letter said.

“The Toowoomba Regional Housing Strategy identifies affordability as an issue in many localities, particularly where average household income is lower, including Newtown.

“The strategy found the current demand for social and affordable housing in the region was not being met, with a waitlist of 400 households seeking long-term social housing, most of whom were in high or very high need for housing, and growing homelessness.”

Instead of lodging an application with the Toowoomba Regional Council, the developers will apply for a ministerial infrastructure designation through the state government, with traffic, stormwater and amenity likely to be key issues.

“The MID process provides a streamlined development approval pathway for certain types of community and social infrastructure, including affordable and social housing,” the letter said.

It follows other charities like the Salvation Army, which secured an MID earlier this year for a five-storey social housing project in the Toowoomba CBD.

It is understood further consultation opportunities will be available during the MID process.

Elanor Investors Group’s retail, development and mixed-use head Matt Healy backed the proposal.

“We are proud to support the proposal that seeks to meet the demand for social and affordable housing in Toowoomba and the region, and aims to help those with a high need for long-term social housing,” he said.