On February 20 our Head of Policy, Communications and Systems Change, Jessica Walker attended the NSW stakeholder meeting on increasing accessible housing in Sydney.
Following this, the Summer Foundation made a submission to inform the NSW approach to the adoption of the Livable Housing Design Standards (LHDS) in the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022.
Consistent with the NSW Building Better Homes campaign position, the Summer Foundation supports the adoption of the LHDS with reasonable exemptions. We believe this represents a reasonable and pragmatic approach for NSW to join the rest of the nation in delivering accessible housing in all new builds.
Research finds that there is a 60% chance that any home will house someone with a disability during its lifespan. In the context of Australia’s housing crisis, we must future-proof housing stock for all Australians by ensuring all new houses meet minimum accessible design standards – things like a step free shower and level entry to the home.
Both the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review called for immediate nation-wide adoption of the LHDS in the NCC. Australia’s Disability and Age Discrimination Commissioners recently echoed this position.
By joining the rest of the nation in adopting the LDHS, the NSW Government can ensure its housing meets the needs of current and future generations.