Affordable housing proposal near town centre

A site opposite Toukley RSL Club has been earmarked for an affordable housing project in a four-storey building comprising 20 units.

Plans for 33-35 Athol St, on the corner of Hargraves St, 300m from Toukley town centre, will include seven specialist disability units.

The development application (1337/2021) involves construction of a four-storey building with 22 basement parking spaces and three levels of residential units.

Dwellings will be made up of 10 units classified as affordable housing with six one-bedroom units and four two-bedders, and the other 10 will be “full market” rental units in the same bedroom configuration.

Under the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) Affordable Rental Housing, nine of the units will be offered to Independent Living Villages and Pacific Link Housing under a commercial agreement for at least 10 years.

A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) says that the most notable positive outcome of the proposal is an increase, and diversity, in housing opportunities as well as meeting growing demand for purpose-built disability accommodation.

The SIA says that specifically in Toukley, there is a need for a greater diversity of smaller, more affordable dwellings.

Sue Murray