12 social housing units will be built at Claremont in Hobart’s northern suburbs after a tribunal overturned a council decision to refuse the development.
The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) handed down its decision on July 2, setting aside the Glenorchy City Council’s refusal and ordering it to grant a permit.
The development at 168A Abbotsfield Road involves 12 single-storey, two-bedroom modular homes on a vacant block.
The council had refused the permit on three grounds, arguing the units were too densely packed, the car park did not meet standards and pedestrian access through it was unsafe.
The tribunal rejected all three grounds. On density, it found the project would deliver a “significant social or community benefit”, pointing to acute demand for social housing in the area.
Loreto Community Housing chief executive Cody Burdon told the tribunal 404 people aged over 16 were waiting for a two-bedroom home in Claremont.
He said there were more than 5,300 applications on the social housing waitlist statewide.
Burdon said his organisation, which manages more than 3,200 properties across Tasmania, would manage the tenancies and allocate the homes through the state’s public housing register.
A planning expert called by the council argued the units were small, had an “institutional appearance” and might not suit residents with mobility issues.
He also cited Homes Tasmania data showing 670 active applicants had listed Glenorchy as their first preference and argued the development would make only a limited contribution to meeting demand.
The tribunal found 12 homes would still make a meaningful contribution, even if they could not meet the full demand.
It also accepted a revised parking plan submitted during the hearing.
The permit requires the homes be used as rental social housing for at least 10 years.
