Brighton area touted as Hobart’s new housing and development hotspot as building approvals soar
A municipality north of Hobart has seen an avalanche of building approvals this year, backed up by solid property prices despite the coronavirus downturn. Find out more >>
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A MUNICIPALITY north of Hobart could be the key to home affordability and availability, and post-COVID development in Tasmania.
Brighton Council have approved more than $18 million worth of development applications in the three months to May 2020, bucking the coronavirus downturn.
The council received a total of 184 development applications and 14 subdivision applications have been received already this year, with around 80 applications still awaiting approval.
The positive trend is continuing with Brighton receiving a further 37 development applications as well as a subdivision application in the first three weeks of June.
Among the approved developments is a major infill project for Taylor Crescent, Bridgewater, comprising three new connector roads, a neighbourhood park, 41 lots, 37 single dwellings and 16 multiple dwellings.
Council Planning Committee Chair Cr Leigh Gray said the increase in development applications provided further confirmation of Brighton’s position as the fastest growing municipality in Tasmania.
“Families want to come and live here and developers want to undertake projects to cater for this demand,” he said.
“The $18 million total investment in just three months is significant and rather than being slowed by the COVID-19 emergency, this activity will certainly aid Tasmania’s economic recovery.
“It’s a very positive sign and undoubtedly, Brighton is seen as an attractive place to continue to invest. Despite social distancing and other restrictions, council is busier than ever.
“On average, the time from lodging a development application to gaining council sign-off is around 30 days, so our planners are working extremely hard to assess and process approvals to enable an early start on construction.”
The latest Realestate.com.au data shows Brighton’s median house price has trended upwards, with house selling prices increasing 13.3 per cent in the short term, three months, 10.2 per cent in the past 12 months and 25.8 per cent over the past three years.
Similarly, units also have trended upwards, but over the longer term, seeing an initial dip of 4.8 per cent in the past year, but overall in the past three years selling for 19.2 per cent more.
The median unit price in Brighton is $295,000 and houses are selling for a median of $390,000, which is a three bedroom.
A recent study by the University of Tasmania has predicted that Brighton will continue as Tasmania’s fastest growing local government area, with the population reaching 23,000 within the next two decades.
“Undoubtedly, Brighton is on the cusp of a period of significant economic development, with the growth of the past decade, current development activity, along with planned major infrastructure projects and the opening up of new economic opportunities, providing for an exciting future,” Mr Gray said.
“COVID-19 has certainly had an impact on the economy and our community, but it seems it has not slowed development activity in Brighton.”
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