Commission welcomes first steps towards mandatory universal housing design standard

14/04/2009

Finally, after many years work by advocates of universal housing design, including the Commission, the state government is taking the first steps in changing our planning regulations to ensure new housing better meets the needs of all Victorians.

On April 14 2009, Planning Minister, Justin Madden announced that the government will undertake public consultation on a Regulatory Impact Statement to examine approaches to increase the number of homes with accessible features. This process will test the costs and benefits of mandating four accessible features:

a clear path from the street to entry level
wider doorways and halls
a toilet suitable for people with limited mobility on entry level
reinforced bathroom walls to withstand the installation of grab rails.

This is the first step towards greater regulation that will see more new homes built to accessible standards. It could result in an Australian first with accessibility regulations applying to all new houses built in Victoria, all new ground floor units in medium density dwellings, and 1 in 5 units in high density developments.

While some developers may protest about additional regulations - the truth is that accessible housing is a affordable solution to meeting the needs of an ageing population, as well as the 20% of Victorians who have a disability.

With the estimated cost of including the four design features in a new home being only $870, no reasonable person would suggest that getting on the front foot in building homes that all Victorians can live in is a bad idea.

Currently, only 4 percent of Victorian homes are accessible. For too long, people have been denied the right to live with dignity in homes that meet their needs.

This first step is very smart, very simple and very welcome.

Dr Helen Szoke, CEO, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is available for comment. Media contact: Janeen Lynch 0419 33 77 34