Bunnings’ backyard pods won’t fix the housing crisis, but they signal a shift |
Australia is in a deep housing crisis.
The latest National Housing Supply and Affordability Council analysis shows the country is likely to fall more than a quarter-of-a-million homes short of the federal government’s target to build 1.2 million homes by 2029. Its data shows only around 938,000 dwellings are expected to be built in the five-year period, leaving a shortfall of about 262,000.
Another economic estimate suggests demand exceeds supply by 200,000 to 300,000 homes, pushing prices and rents higher as Australians compete for a limited stock of houses.
This gap between demand and supply is why many voices in policy and industry argue traditional ways of building houses are too slow and too expensive.
As Bunnings, Australia’s biggest hardware retailer starts selling tiny homes, it feels like a turning point.
But are backyard pods the answer to a national housing crisis?
In response to slow and costly traditional building, many in industry and government have pointed to modern solutions such as modular, prefab or even 3D-printed homes as a key part of the solution.
The idea is to make components or whole sections of homes in dedicated facilities and then assemble them quickly on site.
Recent government analysis shows some of these factory-based homes can be built up to 50% faster than conventional construction, helping speed housing delivery.
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