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Affordable house and land packages on the way
Released 05/04/2008
117/08 5 April 2008
Canberrans will be able to move in to new affordable houses in Franklin by Christmas, as the ACT Government takes another step forward in its Affordable Housing Action Plan, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope announced today.
The ACT Government today called for expressions of interest for suitable qualified builders with the capacity and expertise to participate in the construction of homes as part of the Land Development Agency’s OwnPlace program.
“The OwnPlace program will see the ACT Government, LDA and builders partner together to provide affordable house and land packages, priced under $300,000, for sale in new LDA estates,” Mr Stanhope said. “The first of these packages will be in Franklin and ready for first-home buyers to move into by the end of the year.
“Builders chosen to partner in the OwnPlace program will be responsible for the design, approval, construction, marketing and sale of the affordable homes.
“These new affordable homes will start appearing in all future LDA land releases, as part of the ACT Government’s requirement that at least 15 per cent of new blocks in new estates will enable affordable house and land packages under $300,000.
“The ACT continues to have the most affordable housing in Australia, with the proportion of family income devoted to meeting average home loan repayments in the ACT at 21.1%, compared with 34.7% over the border in NSW.
“And, this is just another step that the ACT Government is taking to provide more housing options as part of its commitment to ensure that all Canberrans have access to affordable housing.
“The Government expects that the new homes will be 100-110m2, with two bedrooms and accommodation for one car.”
Within one year of the release of the Affordable Housing Action Plan, the ACT Government has achieved a number of its actions:
· Increased the supply of land by an additional 1000 blocks to a total of 3,200 this financial year;
· Streamlined land release and approval processes, and introduced englobo releases;
· Mandated the delivery of house and land packages priced between $200,000 and $300,000;
· Provided more generous concessions, to help more Canberrans buy a home;
· Invited institutional investors to provide affordable private rental accommodation;
· Boosted community housing with an equity injection of $40m and a loan facility of $50m;
· Ensured that better and more targeted use is made of public housing;
· Released two demonstration projects to showcase affordable land and housing packages; and
· Funded a design award for excellence in affordable housing.
Builders interested in the OwnPlace program are required to seek copies of the EOI package by contacting Clint Peters from the Land Development Agency on 6205 2461 or by email at clint.peters@act.gov.au.
Media Contact: Penelope Layland 6205 9777 0438 289 714 penelope.layland@act.gov.au