Updating planning rules to increase accommodation diversity

Have your say on proposed changes to the planning rules that provide more flexibility for building apartment-style homes and retirement living across the state.

The State Planning Commission has reviewed the planning rules for apartments, including student accommodation, residential flat buildings, supported accommodation and retirement living.

The draft Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment proposes improvements to enhance housing diversity and provide more flexibility for building apartment-style homes and retirement living across the state.

Key features proposed in the draft code amendment include:

• introducing a new form of ‘co-living’ accommodation for residences that rely on shared facilities, such as common kitchens or bathrooms
• allowing increased building height up to 4-6 storeys for large retirement villages and supported living developments to provide more accommodation for our ageing population to continue living in their own communities
• more flexibility in apartment design, by focussing on rules that contribute to a comfortable home, such as minimum bedroom and living area dimensions, rather than minimum total floor area
• more guidance on how shared rooms and open spaces are designed, including being conveniently located near residences and having good access to sunlight, appropriate seating, lighting and other features
• providing better guidance on the provision of communal recreation spaces and shared facilities for student accommodation.

A draft practice guideline for co-living and student accommodation has also been prepared, outlining the features of communal spaces and shared facilities that should be provided to meet residents’ needs, such recreational spaces and kitchen, dining, bathroom and laundry facilities. Feedback is also invited on the draft guideline.

Providing greater flexibility and increasing the number of apartment-style homes that can be built is part of the South Australian Government’s Housing Roadmap to address the need for more homes for South Australians.

Consultation closes on 27 February 2025.

For more information visit the PlanSA and YourSAy websites.