The housing crisis in NSW is real. And as Sydney’s population continues to grow (our city’s population recently reached an all-time high of 5,557,233, as recorded by the 2023-2024 Census), the NSW government is looking for solutions. Last year, the government announced the biggest investment in public housing in the state’s history, and new housing developments are popping up around the city and beyond, mostly close to contact links like the expanding Sydney Metro network and the new Western Sydney International Airport. Now, a super-compact solution to the housing crisis is in the spotlight – with Sydney’s first factory-built homes for social housing almost ready to welcome residents.
Back in July 2024, we reported on the first trial sites for modular homes in NSW – with seven sites across the state set to welcome residents to high-spec, super-compact homes by July of this year. Now, the first modular homes for social housing are almost ready, with the three compact homes receiving their finishing touches in Smithfield, set to be delivered and installed in Wollongong soon. Once these first three are in-situ, a further 10 homes are due to be installed in Shellharbour and Lake Macquarie by the end of the year.
According to the NSW Government, this modular method of building slashes build-time by up to 20 per cent, and supports around 100 local manufacturing and construction jobs.
“This is the future of social housing – smarter, faster, modern and built to provide tenants dignity. Modular homes aren’t ‘shit-boxes’ they are the future,” said NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson.
“We’re using modern construction to deliver beautiful homes for people who need them most, cutting wait times and creating good local jobs along the way. These homes show what’s possible when we stop dragging our feet and start thinking differently.”
Each of the first sites will feature a bedroom, a multi-purpose room and bathroom. They’ll each be installed in the backyard of an existing social housing property, creating extra homes for people in need on the land already owned by the state.
Intrigued? You can learn more about modular social housing and the NSW Government’s ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ initiative over here.
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