Affordable Housing
The City recognises that access to secure, appropriate and affordable housing is not only a basic requirement for all people, but also and essential component of an inclusive, dynamic and sustainable city.
Affordable housing refers to ‘reasonable’ housing costs in relation to income. A common benchmark is that affordable housing is housing that does not absorb more than 30% of a very low, low or moderate income household’s gross income.
The City is committed to working in partnership with other levels of government to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the inner city. Traditionally responses to housing supply have been led by Federal and State governments but because housing shortages are felt on a local level, local governments must play an advocacy role and help develop planning controls to make way for different types of housing.
Strategic Directions
During the extensive consultation that was undertaken in developing Sustainable Sydney 2030, the community told us that they would like to see the City as affordable, inclusive and accessible to all residents.
State Environmental Planning Policy
In July 2009 the NSW Government introduced the State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009 (the SEPP).
Building Partnerships
The Inner City Mayor's Forum takes a regional approach to respond to the shortage of affordable housing and advocates a variety of social policy and land use planning responses.
Research and Projects
An affordable housing levy would be one part of a suite of measures Council is exploring to increase the amount of affordable housing in the City.
More Information
For more information on the City's policies in relation to affordable housing contact:
Anita Leong
Specialist Planner
City Plan Development
Tel: 02 9265 9333
Email: aleong@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
