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The SA Government has unveiled sweeping changes to South Australia’s housing policy through the Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment, designed to improve affordability, flexibility, and quality across the state’s apartment and retirement living sectors.
The reform aims to address the evolving needs of South Australians by encouraging more diverse and community-focused housing options. Under the new rules, developers will have greater flexibility in design and construction – including the ability to replace costly private balconies with shared amenities such as rooftop gardens and barbecue areas.
By removing requirements for individual balconies, developers can save between $11,000 and $32,000 per apartment, helping to reduce overall construction costs while fostering a sense of shared community.
For retirement and aged care developments, the changes allow for increased building heights – up to four to six storeys – and reduce the minimum land size for a six-storey build from 20,000m² to 10,000m². These adjustments are expected to enable more aged care options within local neighbourhoods, ensuring older South Australians can remain close to family and community support.
Oversight for major developments exceeding four storeys will shift to the State Commission Assessment Panel, while smaller projects on sites under 6,500m² will continue to be managed by local councils to maintain community input and local expertise.
Minister for Planning Nick Champion said the reforms strike a balance between accessibility, design quality, and long-term housing sustainability.
“These planning reforms provide more choice and support for older South Australians and those with complex needs,” he said. “They will support higher quality, more diverse and more affordable housing options right across South Australia.”
Another key feature of the amendment is the introduction of ‘co-living’ models – apartments with shared facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms – guided by new design standards ensuring these communal spaces are functional, high-quality, and accessible.
The updated code reflects South Australia’s shifting demographics, with more single-parent families, smaller households, and an ageing population seeking flexible housing alternatives to traditional detached homes.
Minister Champion will consult with councils statewide to fine-tune the rollout of these planning reforms, which represent one of the most progressive housing policy overhauls in the country.
The Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment underscores the state government’s long-term vision to make housing more affordable, inclusive, and sustainable, setting a new benchmark for future urban development in South Australia.
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