Census 2016: Housing demand is changing
The Census has revealed a shift toward new types of housing.
CoreLogic analysis of the Census figures have revealed a move toward medium density housing. In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra, medium density housing saw the biggest increase in stock in the five years between Census collection periods. Melbourne saw the most significant increase at 61%.
“Interestingly, while driving around inner city areas you would be led to believe that it is higher density units which have been most abundant in new supply, the data points to medium density supply having ramped up the most,” CoreLogic research analyst Cameron Kusher said.
In each of the cities which saw a move toward medium density housing, with the exception of Adelaide and Perth, separate houses saw the smallest increase in stock over the five years.
“Ten years ago in Sydney, 61.7% of housing stock was separate houses, and in the latest Census 55.7% of housing stock was separate houses. If this trajectory continues, by the 2026 Census less than half of Sydney’s housing stock will be separate houses,” Kusher said.
Kusher said that while approvals for high and medium density housing had fallen in recent months, it was anticipated that construction of these housing types would remain elevated.
“I believe we’ll see the shift towards a greater proportion of capital city housing being medium and high density will continue over the coming years,” he said.
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