A new program that benefits both property developers and the livable housing community was recently announced which I’m really excited about.

Brisbane City Council has launched a progressive plan that will enable property developers to take advantage of reduced infrastructure fees if they build livable homes that have “universal building standards” for older residents and people with disabilities.

Under the scheme, a developer can apply for a reduction of between $3K and $5K in infrastructure charges if they build homes that meet the Liveable Housing Australia (LHA) Design Guidelines for people with disabilities. (You can view the typical infrastructure fees here). The Property Council of Australia has also indicated the program will help people needing assistance under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

This is a really positive step for the Brisbane community, with 20% of residents either having a disability or living with someone who is affected by disability. When you also consider that we have an aging population – and many property purchasers increasingly require aged support for themselves or their family members – the need for this kind of development incentive is a no brainer.

It’s very encouraging to see Council recognise the importance of ensuring ongoing developments meet the needs of all its citizens – something I have become passionate about as an architect.

As a registered Livable Housing Assessor, I’ll be working with a number of developers over the coming months to take advantage of this opportunity by designing properties that meet the LHA Guidelines.

Ensuring that your buildings meet LHA Guidelines can be easy and straight forward – and it doesn’t need to compromise the desired style of the property either. For example, some of the design elements you may consider incorporating in your development to qualify for the fee reduction include:

- Reinforced walls in the bathroom areas that allow for grab rails to be attached

- A ground-level toilet

- Showers that do not require people to step into them

- Pathways or ramps from the street entrance to the dwelling entrance that have no stairs

Questions? Just shoot me an email.