“The city I envisage is a just city, with opportunities for all sorts of housing to cater for all sorts of families in all sorts of areas –not a two-tone city split between unit towers and endless sprawl. - Without meeting the need for lower density attached housing, we will inevitably create a city that is divided, spatially and socially, between those with land, and those without; those with resources and those without; those with access to private open space and those without. - Old, rigid, bureaucratic zoning laws threatened to lock older people into homes that do not meet their needs, and deprive young people of the opportunity to purchase a home at all.”1 -Rob Stokes – Former Minister for Planning
RETURN TO COUNTRY The crisis affecting this generation in this city is the prospect of perpetually rent; paying off somebody else’s mortgage rather than our own. In 2018, The Missing Middle Design Competition called upon architects and building designers to consider different alternatives to medium density housing in NSW. One approach was to reconsider the standard Sydney suburban block for subdivision and a new style of medium-density living. In such a manner we also reconsider the suburban community and the stresses that such changes will place on existing infrastructure. In this iteration two definitions have been overlaid. Areas of low-density residential living, which have been nominated as potentially subdivisible as per the divisible lot size, have been overlaid onto those areas where plots may be nominally vacated or sold within the proceeding 20+ years. That is, those zones that are currently occupied by a greater density of individuals over the age of 65 and are potentially subdivisible have been rescinded to country. Further to this, those supporting
infrastructures
and
public
spaces
have
also
been
rescinded.
Given that Merrylands is currently largely comprised of low to medium density housing, ironically those areas that are retained, represent namely the unattainable. Those sites that are too small to divide, but may become too large to afford. DEFINITIONS 1.0 Lot Sizes Areas zones either R1 Low Density, or R2 Medium Density have been filtered for potential affordable and adaptable living schemes; an extension of The Missing Middle. 1.1 Cumberland Council Holroyd LEP (2013) ) – 4.1 (3) The size of any lot resulting from a subdivision of land to which this clause applies is not to be less than the minimum size shown on the Lot Size Map in relation to that land. Min resulting lot size within Cumberland Council (previously Holroyd) within given area is ranges between 200, 450& 900sqm . Given this, all lot size ≥ 400, 900 & 1800 sqm respectively have been rescinded as per lot size map. 1.2 City of Parramatta Parramatta LEP (2011) – 4.1 (3) The size of any lot resulting from a subdivision of land to which this clause applies is not to be less than the minimum size shown on the Lot Size Map in relation to that land. Min resulting lot size within Parramatta City council within given area is 550sqm. Given this, all lot size ≥1100sqm have been rescinded. 2.0 The aging population Zones with greater density of individuals whose medial age ≥ 65years have been filtered. 3.0 Leasehold To be restricted, but not confined to light industry, retail, commercial and recreation & public open space have been rescinded and support medium density living.
1.
Saulwick, J., “Failing on medium-density housing will lead to a divided Sydney: Stokes”, The Sydney Morning Herald, May 2018. Accessed 27.04.19. <https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/failing-on-medium-density-housing-will-lead-to-a-divided-sydneystokes-20180525-p4zhkn.html>
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