Report calls for more family-friendly apartments

The James Martin Institute (JMI) for Public Policy suggests that well-located, higher-density housing is necessary for families with children living in apartments in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state.

In the report titled “Planning for the inclusion of families with children in apartments,” JMI Policy fellow Sophie-May Kerr highlights the challenges faced by families amidst the housing shift in Australia.

According to the report, families with children represent almost 44 percent of all families residing in apartments across the country.

In New South Wales, 68 percent of families reside in two-bedroom apartments, with 61 percent having one child and 32 percent having two children.

The report also reveals that there are a total of 150,000 children living in apartments in NSW.

Unfortunately, some families encounter inadequate living conditions such as issues with size and layout, limited storage space, a lack of family-friendly communal areas, and concerns related to health and well-being.

If the needs of these families for improved design and delivery of apartment housing are not addressed, it will have a significant impact on the success of compact cities, according to Ms. Kerr.

Ms. Kerr emphasized in the executive summary of the report that with one in four apartments in Greater Sydney housing families with children under 15 years of age, there is a crucial need for more attention to be given to family-friendly housing. She stated, “We need to see a shift in thinking from a focus on ‘housing’ to a focus on ‘homes.’”

This paradigm shift requires both the government and private sector to view apartment housing not only as investments or a means to increase housing supply, but also as a vital infrastructure and sustainable long-term homes.

Ms. Kerr’s report suggests key policy reforms, such as establishing family-friendly apartment targets, expanding government and non-market housing, revising housing policy guidelines and criteria, supporting existing apartment dwellings, and enhancing rental property standards.

Aligned with ongoing initiatives in NSW, the report reflects stakeholder perspectives, as stated by JMI CEO Libby Hackett.

The Minns Labor government in NSW plans to expedite the construction of new high- and mid-rise homes over the next 15 years by rezoning 39 transportation hubs statewide.

Additionally, the government has allocated $520 million in the Tier One Accelerated Precincts to ensure that the proposed homes are built in desirable locations where people want to reside.

NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged, “The simple truth is we don’t have enough well-located homes for the people who make up our city. I want NSW to be a state that is affordable for the next generation of kids with great transport options to make work and life easier.”

Ms. Kerr advocates for the construction of apartment dwellings that cater to the needs and preferences of a diverse range of households alongside the state government’s development plans.