Liveable Housing

Status: Ongoing

Banyule Australia

Print this page City population: 12550322% over 60Practice started in 2013

Summary

Livable Housing refers to basic and easy to implement features that improve the accessibility of new homes. Livable Housing features improve new homes so that they are
1. Easier to enter
2. Easier to navigate in and around
3. Designed to meet changing needs of residents who may experience a reduced mobility, dementia, injury or change in the family.
4. Of increased value and easier to rent by providing a marketing edge and appealing to a broader demographic.
Banyule’s planning requirements incorporate a suite of livable housing features to ensure that new homes better meet the current and futures needs of our community. These guidelines enable land developers for best-practice outcomes that go beyond legislative and building code requirements. Livable Housing Design Guidelines were adopted by Council in early 2013.
Council have also applied these guidelines in Council’s own strategic redevelopment of land-holdings, arising from conversation of a brownsite into housing options in Heidelberg Heights.
Our next step is to host a Age friendly Housing think tank in April 2018.

Website: https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Services/Planning/Livable-Housing

Key facts

Main target group: Older people with chronic health conditions or disability

Sector(s): Housing, Information and communication

Desired outcome for older people:
Meet their basic needs

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:

Accessibility
Ageing in place
Dementia
Intergenerational activities
Inclusion

Contact details

Name: Lisa Raywood

Email address: lisa.raywood@banyule.vic.gov.au

Age-friendly practice in detail (click to expand):

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Local authorities

Others involved in the project:

Volunteers
Private sector

How collaboration worked: The development of the Liveable Housing Guidelines required cross-discipline and cross-sector collaboration. Land use planners, Social Planners and research officers worked with community members and the private sector (land developers) to establish the guidelines.

Older people’s involvement: Older people were consulted during the planning process

Details on older people’s involvement: Housing development often takes years. In 2017, the Heidelberg Heights housing development was complete and liveable houses were ready for sale. A local television station did a housing documentary on the Banyule Liveable Housing process. Two older residents (Age-friendly Champions) went on a tour of the houses and were interviewed on the housing outcomes. episode of Community Designs, Channel 31 Melbourne (14 / 11/ 2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB1smV2C_bs

Moving forward

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: No

Do you plan to evaluate your age-friendly practice? Yes

Feedback:
Older adults have contacted the Council wanting to know which land developers are building liveable housing.

Expansion plans:
Banyule is at the stage that the housing developments which have incorporated the liveable housing guidelines are now being sold. Local Government has no direct involvement in the sale of these houses. We are interested in completing some research to find out who are purchasing these houses. Are older people or people with mobility/access needs purchasing these houses? or are these liveable houses an attractive option to all parts of the housing market? Next step: Think Tank on Age friendly Housing, 18th April 2018. This is a forum for all people, in particular older adults to consider if there current house and how to make it age friendly and to also consider if they are in an age friendly neighbourhood. It is an opportunity for residents to gain information and tips to improve the liveability of their home. However, it is also an opportunity for local government to learn about the housing needs of older residents.

Looking back

Challenges:
The promotion of the liveable housing guidelines has been a challenge. Majority of residents have no idea that Council is trying to increase the ‘liveable’ housing stock. Once residents, in particular older residents find out about the guidelines they have an interest in trying to identify housing options (developments) in their neighbourhood. To date, our solution has been to provide regular articles on success and make sure all relevant new developments have the opportunity to incorporate the guidelines.