Almost 200 apartments are set to be built across two prime inner-city locations, following the release of a series of innovative partnership opportunities by Renewal SA for Community Housing Providers (CHP) to deliver quality affordable housing for rent and purchase.

The new apartment projects – at Bowden and Prospect – will support CHPs to expand their affordable rental asset portfolios by partnering with government. The Community Housing sector plays a vital role as a non-profit housing provider to individuals and families on low and medium incomes.

The new accommodation options will allow tenants to pay rent at under 75% of the market rate, whilst living within 7km from the city. A number of apartments will also be offered for affordable purchase at Bowden, as part of a push to deliver more affordable and sustainable housing for South Australians.

These priority project opportunities – open to Tier 1 and Tier 2 CHPs with an established South Australian presence – will be offered under two partnership delivery models:

1. Partnership model 1 –
   • Second Street, Bowden – Targeting 60 affordable homes including a minimum of 36 affordable rentals.
   • Renewal SA, in partnership with the SA Housing Authority, will offer de-risked site and sale contributions to support a targeted fast-track delivery by December 2025.
   • The successful CHP will purchase the land, design, build and manage the new apartment building.
2. Partnership model 2 –
   • Third Street, Bowden – minimum 60 affordable rentals as part of a mixed-use building to be delivered by late 2025.
   • Churchill Road, Prospect – minimum 72 affordable rental apartments across two residential buildings with a target delivery date of early 2026.
   • Renewal will seek to deliver the three apartment projects, working with a CHP to inform the design, tenant identification and management. Following construction, the CHP will take over the responsibility and operation of the affordable housing outcomes with the opportunity to purchase.

As part of its commitment to the National Housing Accord – which seeks to deliver one million new homes across Australia from mid-2024 – the state government has released A Better Housing Future, a comprehensive plan addressing the immediate challenges of supply, diversity and affordability that are impacting every aspect of public and private housing.

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said the new apartments at Bowden and Prospect would significantly boost the number of affordable rental and for-purchase apartments in South Australia.

“These affordable homes are in highly sought-after areas and surrounded by established amenities and transport links – making them an important addition to our housing supply boost as we address the housing crisis,” Minister Champion said.

“By partnering with the community housing sector, we are well placed to capitalise on Federal Government support and will continue to position SA as a frontrunner for new investment into housing.”

Renewal Executive Director of Residential Project Delivery and Assets, Shane Wingard, said the new delivery model would leverage the expertise of the community housing sector and combine it with Renewal SA’s experience in project delivery, fast-tracking the construction of high-quality, sustainable homes in highly desirable locations.

“We are seeking CHP partnerships to collaborate on design, tenant identification and future property management, with Renewal SA providing project and development management support for the construction as part of a proposed partnership approach with the critical CHP sector,” Mr Wingard said.

“These will deliver one-and-two-bedroom rental apartments across four separate buildings.

“As part of Renewal SA’s Works Program, the projects will also provide training and employment opportunities for local job seekers during delivery and meet required local industry participation requirements.”

The SA Tenders and Contracts website provides full details of the Expressions of Interest opportunities and supporting documentation. Expressions of Interest for partnership model 1 close on 19 October 2023. Expressions of Interest for partnership model 2 close on 29 September 2023.