NEWCASTLE'S first co-living tower is in the pipeline adding to the city's desperately-needed housing stock.
The council voted to approve the 11-storey housing development with 51 rooms, a ground-level forecourt, a multi-purpose communal art space, roof top terrace and three rooms designed for people with disabilities on Tuesday.
Labor Cr Nuatali Nelmes pointed out how unique and unusual it is to have investment of any kind into affordable housing.
"I think it's really wonderful to have so much supportive input for what is really the first large scale co-living project in the city," she said.
"There's been a lot of work done over a long time to do a lot of urban renewal and be a city that attracts people to living back in the CBD."
Cr Nelmes said the $11 million proposal is "exceptionally significant" and will contribute to alleviating the housing crisis.
"Hopefully ... it is a signal to the rest of the market, particularly in the private sector, that this type of diversity and housing stock is welcome in Newcastle," she said.
The $11.8 million development on the corner of Denison and Parry streets is the first in Newcastle designed under co-living provisions brought in three years ago.
Co-living is similar to boarding homes in that they are both designed to be compact with communal areas in connected locations.
The difference with co-living projects is that they are not operated by community housing providers and have a smaller density bonus than boarding homes.
The concept plan was first approved by City of Newcastle in 2023 with councillors of the day calling it an opportunity to bring some "much-needed diversity" to the inner-city housing stock.
The council also approved an additional condition of consent requiring the developer to consult with a local, suitably qualified and experienced Aboriginal engagement consultant as part of the site's public art and connecting with country strategy.
