Tasmanian attitudes towards apartment living is changing, but development is stalling due to labour constraints and backlash from some community groups, experts say.
But at the moment, Hobart is lagging when it comes to higher-density living, and experts say boosting it could be key to the city's future prosperity.A Ray White economic report this week highlighted Hobart's very low rate of units and apartments, which make up only 15 per cent of all dwellings.In London, Singapore and Hong Kong more than 80 per cent of all homes are units.
"Every time someone builds a house in the outer suburbs as opposed to the inner suburbs, it costs our community well over $100,000 extra in infrastructure costs just to get that block out there," he said. "They don't come here. We can't attract them because we don't have the housing options they want," Mr Burgess said.The rejection of a major social housing project that would have provided dozens of apartments for vulnerable women over the age of 50 is "one of the poorest decisions" Hobart City Council has made, its mayor says.
"We see there's a demand across all sectors of the industry for multi-residential developments, both social and affordable housing projects as well as first home buyers and people downsizing," he said. "Until we can better plan our requirements over a medium to longer-term horizon we are going to struggle to retain our workforce or entice people into the training pathways.