Tag: Brisbane Housing Company

Chermside Affordable Housing Development Moves Forward

Demolition is set to begin on Rode Rd near the Prince Charles Hospital, where 92 units of affordable housing will soon be built in Chermside. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with an expected 2025 completion.

Read: New Affordable Homes for Vulnerable and Low-Income Households Planned for Chermside

The new development, funded through the $2 billion Housing Investment Fund, will include 46 new social housing units and 46 affordable units, providing much-needed housing for low-income earners and vulnerable community members.

The project is a partnership between Brisbane Housing Company (BHC) and Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC).

MP Jimmy Sullivan, Minister for Housing Meaghan Scanlon, and BHC CEO Rebecca Oelkers at the site (Photo credit: Meaghan Scanlon MP/Facebook)

This is the fourth joint project between BHC and QIC under the state’s Housing Investment Fund (HIF), including another 34 units currently under construction in Chermside. A proposed 81-unit development in Woolloongabba also has an approved Ministerial Infrastructure Designation through the Housing Investment Fund.

To date, over $479 million in funding has been approved under the HIF, with another 71 project proposals shortlisted for the next stage of assessment. Since its inception, the HIF has supported over 1,600 new social and affordable homes.

Minister for Housing Meaghan Scanlon said the new units will provide housing options for at-risk groups like women fleeing domestic violence, seniors, people with disabilities, and Indigenous families. She said all units will be built with accessibility in mind, to silver or gold standards.

The development was welcomed by local MP Jimmy Sullivan, who said it will house people from the social housing register and lower-income workers employed nearby.

BHC CEO Rebecca Oelkers said the new units are a “crucial addition” to meet affordable housing needs. She commended the state government’s commitment to funding such projects across greater Brisbane.

Read: Chermside Transformation: A Vision for the Future

The units contribute to the government’s goal of 5,600 new social and affordable homes to be constructed or under contract by mid-2027 under the HIF.

Published 25-September-2023

Approved: Two New Social Housing Projects Including One on Ethel Street in Chermside

Photo credit: Brisbane Housing Company / bhcl.com.au

Not-for-profit developer Brisbane Housing Company has secured Council approval for its two new social and affordable housing projects, one on Ethel Street, Chermside and another in Stones Corner.

Read: Business Owners Advised To Assess Security After Stealing Incident In Chermside Jewellery Store

Brisbane City Council has approved BHC’s development plans which will provide a combined 116 apartments, supporting the company’s strategy to increase the supply of affordable rental homes for Queenslanders. 

BHC caters to a variety of people in need with affordable and stable accommodation including people eligible for social housing, with rents usually set at 25-30 per cent of household weekly income. The affordable housing component of BHC’s developments provides rental opportunities for lower-income earners at 75 per cent of the average market rent.

One of the projects will be located on Brisbane’s northside and the other one will be in the inner south with construction slated to commence in early 2023. 

A five-storey build-to-rent development will rise at 5 and 9 Ethel Street, Chermside – close to local transport and major health and retail precincts. The Ultralinea-designed housing tower will comprise a mix of 34 (28 x one-bedroom and 6 x two-bedroom) homes.

The project, likewise, will deliver an equal mix of 17 social housing and 17 affordable homes targeting those at risk of homelessness, particularly low-income workers and people on the social housing register. It will feature multiple spaces where residents could meet and connect including an alfresco rooftop and ground floor common space.

A total of 31 car parking spaces will be provided including 22 resident car parks and 9 visitor car parks as well as 43 bicycle spaces.

Render of an approved residential tower at 23-27 Cleveland Street, Stones Corner
Render of an approved residential tower at 23-27 Cleveland Street, Stones Corner | Photo credit:  Brisbane Housing Company / bhcl.com.au

The Brisbane inner-south 10-storey development, meanwhile, will deliver a mix of 82 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments on a site located on Cleveland Street in Stones Corner. Designed by award-winning Ellivo Architects, the project will comprise 50 social housing and 32 affordable homes.

The Chermside and Stones Corner projects will target a 7+star NatHERS rating, offering rainwater collection and storage for landscape irrigation, a solar array to power the communal spaces and lifts, and naturally cross-ventilated apartments and communal spaces. 

Read: Active School Travel: Craigslea State School Named School of the Year

BHC’s vision is to create vibrant developments that provide essential workers, and Queenslanders in housing need, with safe, quality homes located close to local transport and services,” BHC Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Oelkers said.

“These community-centric housing options will be brought to life by thoughtful architecture, providing the peace of mind for residents that comes with the stability of long-term rental tenure.

“Our new Chermside development is within walking distance of the Prince Charles and St Vincent’s hospitals and the retail hub of Chermside Shopping Centre and will provide much needed accommodation to essential workers in these precincts.

“Similarly, our Stones Corner development is centrally located close to public transport, retail, parklands, and employment and education opportunities in the inner-city.”

BHC marked its 20th anniversary last November 2022 with a provision of more than 2,000 affordable and high-quality homes for Queenslanders in need. BHC targets a further 2,000 homes over the next five years.