Using Construction Innovation in delivering Affordable Housing
How to deliver innovation in affordable housing? It is now globally accepted that we need a quantum leap in housing affordability if the average working person is to own or rent their own home. The world has changed, we must innovate or become non-competitive. We should no longer resist change but instead, embrace it and work with other nations to improve our housing construction and make it more affordable for all. Building more efficient homes will go a long way to addressing the housing affordability crisis as well as help address other social issues such as energy consumption and labor-heavy construction sites. There are many innovative ideas and products available that can build homes quicker and better without compromising on quality or style. We need to investigate these options and make use of them to improve the affordability of housing for all Australians.
Current state of Victorian Town Planning
This document presents some general ideas and directions for improvement in our housing industry. Many overseas house and apartment manufacturing processes are knocking on our doors. Australia, so far, strongly resisted any building industry innovation, progress, mass production, and standardization in the housing products we offer.
Hand in hand Victorian Town Planning has strongly resisted any interference, improvement, and knowledge sharing with overseas practices.
Future Objectives
Objectives for provision of Innovation in affordable housing construction as well as their respective precincts:
- There is a reason why certain topics are considered “mainstream” while others remain on the fringe. Mainstream investors and industries have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are, which stifles innovation. On the other hand, non-mainstream research topics often lack the funding necessary to gain traction. If we want to see any real progress in fields like affordable housing innovations, researchers must retain their university tenures while reaching out and making discoveries. That is why it is essential to support research papers and research funding for non-mainstream research topics. By doing so, we can create an environment where new ideas can flourish and make a real difference in the world.
- Allow researchers’ independence to source angel investors or incubator funding for their work.
- Allow small innovators, innovative products, and methods to enter the Australian market through companies like BuildFit.
- Use of innovative methods and materials to deliver automated, mass-produced, sustainable, and cheaper products to meet the needs of affordable housing. This doesn’t have to mean the over-whole of the industry but instead can be delivered for affordable housing projects only.
- Improve approachability of the government bodies such as the Ministry for innovation Victoria or (Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions)1. Innovations funding needs to be proactive in finding innovators and offering them funds to stay and develop their projects here. Currently innovators are applying for funds and failing through the convoluted bureaucracy.
1. Government agencies
2. Strategies that can deliver affordable housing. Affordable housing
3. Making existing lots smaller SLHC Small Lot Housing Code