An affordable apartment complex in Bowden has reached its highest point of construction, with work now underway on the finishing touches for 70 new homes.
Kennett Builders recently poured the concrete slab and completed the roof structure of the top level of community services provider UnitingSA’s Uniting on Second building, located within Renewal SA’s Bowden precinct.
The $37 million development, funded in part through the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF), includes 70 affordable apartments, with 24 affordable apartments sold while a further 46 apartments will be rented including four SDA apartments suitable for tenants with disabilities.
The affordable apartments were sold through the South Australian Government’s HomeSeekerSA initiative with purchasers needing to meet eligibility criteria including income limits. Tenants for the remaining apartments will be sought later in 2025.
“This project represents a not-for-profit developer, the Federal Government and our State Government coming together to tackle the national housing crisis,” said SA Housing Minister, Nick Champion.
“This milestone for Uniting on Second is yet another chapter in the incredible Bowden urban renewal project.”
Uniting on Second will feature apartments being sold or rented out at below market value and a rooftop garden with city view.
“UnitingSA is uniquely positioned to deliver housing projects. Every day, across our services, we see how the housing shortage and lack of affordable accommodation is impacting South Australians,” said UnitingSA CEO, Jenny Hall.
“Access to safe and affordable housing gives people the foundations they need to build better lives. That is why what we’re doing here matters so much. We’re not just about constructing buildings – we’re very much about building communities where people can thrive.
“Once this project is complete, UnitingSA’s housing portfolio will include more than 500 homes for South Australians. With more plans in the pipeline – we will continue to respond to this housing crisis with practical and innovative solutions.”
The builder is also targeting environmental excellence with the project the first in the country to participate in a Material Bank, the Government said in a statement.
Specific materials used during construction are marked with QR codes, creating a digital bank which catalogues precast panels, structural steel and solar panels to be re-certified and reused at the end of the building’s life.
This material bank, championed by Kennett has been endorsed as a leadership challenge by the Green Building Council of Australia.
“Uniting on Second at Bowden is the first project in Australia to participate in Kennett’s world leading initiative in support of a circular economy – Buildings as Material Banks,” said Kennett General Manager, Anthony Carbone.
“Construction is 37% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. The opportunity to catalogue high grade, high value material such as pre-cast concrete, structural steel and solar panels to be recertified and re-used in a new building at the end of life, if rolled out nationally would be a significant step in reducing emissions, while also creating new industry.
“The Bowden apartments have been constructed with material passport technology which has been applied to these structural elements enabling a digital twin of the physical building’s components to be stored for future recycling and reuse.
“We commend UnitingSA and the State Government for their foresight in adopting the material bank for this important social housing project which is also part of the Housing Australia Future Fund which provides a sustainable source of funding to address the housing crisis.”
Expressions of interest for the affordable rentals, which will be offered to eligible tenants at 75% of market rate, will open closer to building completion.
Residents will begin moving into the building in early 2026.
