Manor houses might make you think of Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, but these stately properties are making a comeback in Aussie suburbs as a way to get more people into homes where they want to live.
These imposing properties were historically a sign of wealth for rich families, but architects and home builders overhauled the design in modern times to accommodate multiple apartments under the one roof.
Now state governments across the country are looking at ways to encourage home builders to construct more manor houses and other low-rise, medium-density housing options as an entry point for budget-conscious home buyers who want to live in middle-ring suburbs throughout the country’s cities.
The idea is hailed by some as a promising compromise in Australia’s great NIMBY (Not in my backyard) debate by increasing housing supply in sought-after neighbourhoods without erecting skyscrapers that might distort the area’s character.
South Australia is the latest state government to look at manor houses, with the SA Housing Trust piloting a ‘manor house’ development in the Adelaide suburb of Blair Athol.
The State Commission Assessment Panel approved the new complex two weeks ago, and the homes will be available for private ownership through the government’s Rent to Own scheme.
SA housing and urban development minister Nick Champion says the move was aimed at increasing housing supply and helping build more homes faster.
An artist's impression of the SA Housing Trust manor house pilot project in Blair Athol, Adelaide. Picture: Supplied
“Missing middle homes will give South Australians a genuine new option to live affordably in the suburbs they know and love,” Mr Champion said.
“This type of housing is a perfect affordable option for first-home buyers or South Australians looking to downsize at a modest price.
“We want South Australian builders to look at these homes and see the opportunity to build more just like them.”
Manor house layouts differ throughout the country but are generally two-storey buildings with two to four apartments.
SA is opting for a 'one up, one down’ layout that provides low-density, two-bedroom homes under the same roof.
The pilot was developed with industry groups, private sector builders and the state planning commission, with hopes that the private sector, community housing providers, and government agencies will use these designs in future.
It comes as other states look to manor houses and other home types in their own efforts to increase housing supply while preserving neighbourhood character.
Victoria and the ACT have been working through their own planning reforms, while New South Wales has kicked off medium density in certain areas. Queensland has cited density as a key area to its housing supply response.
PropTrack senior economist Angus Moore says Australia needs more mid-rise housing.
PropTrack senior economist Angus Moore said Australia has traditionally built detached houses in outer suburbs and apartments in inner-city locations.
“What Australia has done relatively little of, compared to larger cities around the world, is mid-rise density,” he said.
“The reason that kind of density is important is because it provides a lot of choices for people and we know it helps improve housing and rental affordability as well.
“We have seen policy changes in places like Auckland where they made it possible to build more low- to mid-rise density homes across much of the city. The result was a big increase in construction of those types of homes, with rents and home prices becoming more affordable.
“So experiments that find ways to build some more of that missing middle density in inner- and middle-ring suburbs is a good step toward trying to improve housing affordability.”
Low-rise, medium-density home types also include duplexes and small apartment buildings that offer alternatives to detached houses and large apartment towers.
The urgency to build more homes across the country is a result of Australia’s housing affordability crunch, with home prices sitting near record highs and becoming increasingly unaffordable for many people.
Economists and experts agree that increasing housing supply through home building is the main way to improve affordability over the long term, but the country has struggled to build enough homes to keep up with population growth in recent years.
Home building approvals have been increasing, but the country is still behind on the National Housing Accord target of building 1.2 million new homes over the five years to mid-2029.
Australia’s median house price rose 8.4% to $1.01 million during the year to April, while the median unit price was up 9% to $741,000, according to PropTrack.
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