Bridging the age gap through housing diversity
With property values surging an extraordinary 75 per cent since March 2020, thousands of Western Australian homeowners find themselves asset-rich, yet lifestyle poor, trapped in family homes no longer serving their needs while younger generations struggle to gain a foothold in the neighbourhoods they grew up in.
This intergenerational housing disconnect threatens the fabric of established communities across the city.
Perth's property market presents unique characteristics relevant to housing diversity. With REIWA reporting that Perth's median house price reached $775,000 in early May, affordability challenges are acute for first-time buyers.
The State Government has responded through its Housing Diversity Pipeline initiative, encouraging innovative development on government-owned land, particularly near transport nodes.
Housing diversity delivers multiple advantages for communities across Perth. Thoughtfully designed apartments in established suburbs create opportunities for older residents to downsize without abandoning familiar neighbourhood settings.
This housing transition simultaneously releases larger family homes into the market, often resulting in neighbourhood rejuvenation while preserving community character.
The predominant demographic in central Perth comprises those aged 20-29, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with childless couples forming a significant household type.
This contrasts with many outer suburbs where traditional family households predominate, highlighting the need for diverse housing options across different areas to serve various life stages.
Successful diverse developments incorporate elements appealing across demographic boundaries – adaptable living spaces, universal design principles ensuring accessibility and communal facilities fostering intergenerational interaction.
When these elements combine, developments can successfully house multiple generations, creating naturally balanced communities.
For WA, housing diversity succeeds best when developments integrate harmoniously with existing community fabric.
This requires architectural design respecting neighbourhood character while providing contemporary living standards, thoughtful transition zones between development and surrounding buildings, and ground-floor activation benefiting the broader community.
Local planning frameworks must evolve to support housing diversity objectives in the WA context.
Requirements for dwelling size variations within developments can ensure mixed demographic appeal while design guidelines mandating accessibility features help to create developments serving diverse resident needs.
Housing diversity represents an essential strategy for maintaining vibrant, inclusive communities in established suburbs.
By providing appropriately designed apartments appealing across demographic boundaries, developers help to address intergenerational housing needs while enhancing community sustainability, delivering benefits not only for residents but also for the broader social and economic fabric of Perth's urban areas.
Recent Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute research indicates poor-quality housing with inadequate environmental performance constitutes a public health issue regardless of density level.
The intensification process offers WA decision-makers a timely opportunity to elevate housing quality standards more in line with international practices as older, underperforming housing stock is replaced.
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