The location of Australian housing is changing, with new homes now being built outside of traditional residential areas.
The number of apartments approved for mixed-use settings, such as above retail projects, is on the increase with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing mixed-use or city centre approvals accounted 9.3% of all new dwelling approvals.
ABS director of construction statistics Daniel Rossi says the figures are the first of their type which looks at the impact of land use regulation on supply.
It shows the majority of homes are being built on lot sizes far smaller than the national average block.
About a third (33.2%) of dwelling approvals are for homes on blocks between 200m2 and 400m2.
When it comes to land parcels receiving zoning approval, about a third (30.2%) are for blocks between 600 and 800m2.
“The takeaway is that we are delivering more dwellings in non-residential areas like city and mixed-use type areas through apartments – that change is happening,” Rossi says.
The ABS figures also show the average site area of new houses in Australian capital cities has decreased by 13% or 64sq m in the past ten years.
The average site area is now 432sq m.
