Solving urban sprawl & housing affordability

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In this article How Co-housing Could Make Homes Cheaper and Greener, researchers Caitlin McGee and Professor Suzanne Benn explore how this under-used co-housing model could lead to financial, social and environmental benefits for its residents.

Due to our ageing population, over 30% of households are predicted to be for single residents by 2026. This suggests an innovative and more flexible approach to housing should be welcomed, with benefits to both the residents themselves and for managing urban sprawl.

“Whilst multi-unit housing remains a significant part of the solution to urban sprawl, co-housing adds another option to the mix – one that increases suburban densities in a way that is modest, incremental and distributed.”

The co-housing concept involves adapting a single-dwelling suburban block to accommodate two or three smaller dwellings with some shared spaces, so reducing the overall physical and environmental footprint per household. For an example of this approach in practice, read more on the Balmain Houses here.