Dual occupancy homes for older Canberrans hindered by restrictions

The creation of appropriate housing for Canberra’s ageing population is being hindered by ACT planning regulations, according to a prominent local architect.

TT Architecture director Tony Trobe said restrictions on RZ1, or standard residential blocks, are preventing older Canberrans from staying in their neighbourhoods.

In addition to physical hurdles, such as big blocks and stairs, some older residents are having trouble keeping up with the rising rates that come with large blocks.

For Ian and Rosemary Meldrum, redeveloping was the obvious solution.

The couple had lived at their family home in Forrest for 35 years and its RZ2 zoning meant townhouse redevelopment was permitted.

They are in the process of building four townhouses on the 2400-square-metre block.

They commissioned Mr Trobe to design homes that would meet the needs of older residents.

Wider doorframes and master bedrooms on the ground floor were among the age-friendly considerations.

The Meldrums will be living in one of the townhouses and have already sold two to local residents.

“We were really lucky that we had that block,” Mrs Meldrum said.

“We had a good solution.”

Melissa Coggan’s parents were not as fortunate. They would like to redevelop their 1100-square-metre Farrer block for dual occupancy, but as it’s zoned RZ1, rather than RZ2, it’s not an option.

Ms Coggan has spent two years looking for a house they could manage.

“I’ve looked for a townhouse in every area they could afford, but there’s nothing with a bedroom on the ground floor,” she said.

Mr Trobe said dual occupancies can be built on RZ1 blocks, however a restrictive formula used to determine the proportion of the block that can be developed “virtually kills any incentive to do a dual occupancy”.

Depending on design, a dual occupancy can take up just 17 to 33 per cent of a 750-square-metre block, while a single house is allowed to take up 50 per cent of the block.

Mr Trobe said a well-designed dual occupancy on an appropriate sized block could be relatively low density and fit well within the streetscape.

“With the stroke of a pen, while retaining suitable bulk and scale restrictions, the government could easily allow greater numbers of dwellings on RZ2 blocks also, and provide those housing types that are badly missing from the Canberra market,” Mr Trobe said.

“All that is needed is to make some simple numeric changes to the Territory Plan and the market would take care of the rest.

“Providing it’s done right it will rejuvenate the urban fabric, rather than detract from it.”