Northsea in Wollongong is Australia’s first apartment building to combine private, social and affordable housing. Photo: Traders in Purple & Housing Trust.
The partners behind a new apartment building in the heart of Wollongong hope it becomes the blueprint for diverse neighbourhoods across the country.
The recently completed Northsea, in lower Crown Street, is the first building in Australia to combine private, social and affordable housing, including shared lifts, lobbies and resident facilities.
Northsea is a partnership between national property and construction group Traders In Purple, Homes NSW and community housing provider Housing Trust. All 38 private homes were sold prior to completion.
The Illawarra-based Housing Trust is leasing the 18 social and affordable apartments, providing new homes for low-income households and key workers struggling to pay rent.
Housing Trust CEO Amanda Winks said the need for social and affordable housing in the Illawarra had never been more urgent, with thousands of applicants on waiting lists.
“Northsea breaks the mould with its innovative design and creation of a vibrant and diverse community through the mix of social, affordable and private market homes, in an incredible location which provides residents easy access to everything they need from school and work, services and shops,” she said.
“Northsea is a true landmark and exemplar of what’s needed to create a thriving, sustainable community where everyone can contribute, with the safety and security of an affordable home.
“[It’s] the perfect example of what can be achieved through shared vision and collaboration.”
Traders In Purple Director Charles Daoud said Northsea aligned with the company’s belief that creating beautiful homes with purpose delivered wide-ranging benefits that extended to the local economy and broader community.
“Addressing housing supply is important, but housing those whose need is greatest is critical,” he said.
“Prior to launching this project there was a fear that misconceptions around community housing would affect sales, but our efforts to educate and break down those barriers delivered a sell-out before construction completion at market prices.
“That is a lesson we hope the property industry takes to heart. Northsea is a blueprint for how we develop diverse neighbourhoods.
“A diverse community is a stronger community, where the experience of living side by side without barriers helps to build empathy and social cohesion.
“Northsea is a building that is desirable for many reasons, not least the spectacular views, proximity to beaches and other amenity. We are proud that it will also give hope to those locked out of the private rental market by cost or circumstance.
“From the moment we commenced the partnership with Homes NSW and Housing Trust to create Northsea, we were determined to show that the mixed tenure model of housing can be feasible and deliver a significant social return.”
Homes NSW CEO Rebecca Pinkstone commended the project partners for their efforts in tackling the housing crisis.
“The scale of the challenge to resolve the housing crisis across the state is massive and the need for more social, affordable, and private homes has never been greater,” she said.
“This project ticks all the boxes and demonstrates the importance of partnerships in tackling the housing crisis.
“It is an example of what can be achieved when the State Government works together with developers like Traders In Purple and community housing providers such as Housing Trust.
“Mixed tenure developments like this one, with both social and private homes support vibrant and diverse communities. The success of the project demonstrates that there are many people in our community that value this diversity.”
Wollongong MP and NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully attended the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.
He said the government was making a large investment in social housing, while also including affordable housing as part of major rezonings.
“For the first time ever, the Minns Government introduced requirements for affordable housing in its Transport Oriented Development Program and that affordable housing needs to be held in perpetuity.
“This requirement works alongside our infill affordable housing bonus scheme which has generated considerable interest in Wollongong and across NSW. Together these will deliver a mix of social, affordable and market housing which will not only help address housing pressures but also help to create diverse and vibrant communities.”
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