Traders In Purple, the company behind the proposed Springside Hill development west of Kiama, has partnered with Housing Trust to ensure it can deliver on its promise for a quarter of new homes to be reserved for locals, first-home buyers, key workers and renters.

Traders In Purple will work with long-time collaborators Housing Trust, a not-for-profit and Tier 1 Registered Community Housing Provider (CHP) that leases social and affordable housing to people on very low-to-moderate incomes. Housing Trust has collaborated with Traders In Purple on a number of projects in the Illawarra in the past, including the 34-home Correa Gardens in Corrimal and the Northsea apartment building in Wollongong.

When Traders In Purple revealed its initial plans for the Springside Hill development, which could see 1000 new homes built across a 114-hectare site on the western edge of Kiama, the company guaranteed that at least 25 per cent of new homes built will be set aside for buyers typically locked out of the housing market, such as first-home buyers and locals.

Housing Trust CEO Michele Adair said that more people are struggling to rent, let alone afford to buy, as a result of inaction by all levels of government.

“Hand wringing and blame shifting isn’t going to put a roof over anyone’s head. We need action now, not only to deal with the human cost of housing stress but the economic consequences for businesses and essential services,” Adair said.

Traders In Purple CEO Brett Robinson said his company and the Housing Trust were strongly aligned in their mission to bring more affordable housing to the market.

“Together with Housing Trust we want to keep locals local so that young people are not forced to leave the  area, and essential services and businesses are able to retain and attract workers,” said Mr Robinson.  

“Springside Hill is an opportunity for a sustainable housing solution for the area. It is a long-term vision to be  delivered over many years. Along with Housing Trust, Traders in Purple will remain committed at every step of the journey.”

You can read the full plans and provide direct feedback to Traders In Purple from the project website here.