armstrong creek urban growth plan volume 1 - City of Greater Geelong

Housing Mix
In [the traditional New England town], one can live above the store, next to
the store, five minutes from the store or nowhere near the store, and it is
easy to imagine the different age groups and personalities that would prefer
each alternative. In this way and others, the traditional neighbourhood
provides for an array of lifestyles. In conventional suburbia, there is only
one available lifestyle: to own a car and to need it for everything. Andres Duany
The detailed housing mix in each neighbourhood will be determined at the next
level of planning for each precinct. However, it is important that the UGP provide
for minimum densities in order to ensure that sufficient population is reached to
support a comprehensive range of commercial and community facilities for the
community.
It is also important that the UGP provide for a variety of housing types and pricepoints,
in order to provide suitable choices for a range of different needs, lifestyle
preferences and income levels. This will ensure that Armstrong Creek attracts a
diverse mix of people—of varied ages, ethnicity, religion and levels of socioeconomic
advantage, in households ranging from single-person to large families—
a hallmark of strong communities. It will also avoid the need for people to move
away from their community as their housing needs change.
The Preliminary Housing Analysis undertaken for Armstrong Creek indicates that,
in the period to 2031, the proportion of homes that are separate houses is likely to
decrease to between 72 and 82%. It also concludes that the average sized
modern home (assumed to be 228 sqm) can be comfortably accommodated on a
lot of 427 sqm, or 256 sqm in a two-level configuration. Further, whilst lot sizes
between 500 and 600 sqm may be the most popular, a trend towards smaller lot
sizes may be emerging, with major property developers now providing lots in the
200-450 sqm range as core product.
It is best practice to mix different forms of housing. This avoids the creation of
single-income-level ‘ghettos’ and promotes healthy interaction between people of
different socio-economic backgrounds and age. ‘Gated communities’, which
exclude the public from passing through large areas are to be avoided because
they tend to result in homogenous groups of residents who do not mix with other
people. They also reduce permeability.
There is a current trend towards smaller lot sizes. This is likely to continue.
Therefore, it will be important that the design of lot layouts and controls over their
use do not limit their potential for further subdivision to respond to changing market
preferences.
ARMSTRONG CREEK URBAN GROWTH PLAN / VOLUME 1 (ADOPTED 13 MAY 2008, AMENDED MAY 2010)
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