At Ruth Newman Architect, we believe that every line in a drawing should hold a purpose. When it comes to designing homes, it’s not just about beauty or functionality, it’s also about creating spaces that support real lives, at every stage.

That’s why the national conversation around Liveable Housing Design is so important. These are not ‘special’ features, they are design choices that make homes easier to live in, for everyone.

But here in New South Wales, things are a little different.

What Is Liveable Housing?

In 2022, the National Construction Code (NCC) introduced new minimum design standards for all new houses and apartments. These are known as the Liveable Housing Design (LHD) provisions, and they became mandatory in most states from October 2023.

They focus on a few key things that make homes more accessible:

• No steps at the entry
• Wider doorways and hallways
• Reinforced bathroom walls (for future grab rails)
• Step-free showers
• A toilet on the ground floor

Individually, these might seem small. But together, they allow people to age at home, live more independently, and feel safe and supported – even after injury or illness.

Why NSW Didn’t Adopt the Change

NSW is currently the only state that hasn’t implemented these new NCC provisions. The decision was made by the previous state government, largely due to cost concerns.

A regulatory review estimated that including the Liveable Housing features would add around $4,000 per new home. In response, the state left the relevant section of the NCC (Part H8) blank which means the standards are not mandatory in NSW.

It’s a decision that has sparked debate, particularly among disability advocates and ‘ageing in place’ specialists, who argue that retrofitting homes later is far more costly (financially and emotionally) than designing them well from the start.

The NSW Alternative: Housing SEPP 2021

Instead of adopting the national standard, NSW has taken a different approach through the Housing SEPP 2021. The key elements of this include:

• Adaptable Housing: 10% of new apartments in mid-rise buildings (3–6 storeys) must be designed so they can be more easily adapted over time.
• Group Homes: Planning rules encourage more housing options for people with disabilities or disadvantage, and streamline the approval process in many zones.

These are solid steps. But they rely heavily on individual council implementation and developer engagement, which means there’s no consistent, state wide guarantee that homes are being designed with accessibility in mind. Also it does not include new homes, only apartments and group homes.

Our Perspective: Let’s Design for Life

At RNA, we believe accessibility shouldn’t be an optional extra, it should be the norm. The national Liveable Housing Design standard offers a simple, clear path toward more inclusive homes, and we can see the benefit of its adoption in NSW, noting that compliance with other sections of the NCC may cause conflict in some cases.

Ideally we will all design with inclusion in mind and work with our clients to ensure we are:

• Creating spaces that work for young families, older adults, and everyone in between
• Supporting people through life’s changes – planned or unexpected
• Future-proofing homes to remain functional, beautiful, and safe for decades to come

We’re here to help you make sense of the codes, understand your options, and create homes that are not only compliant, but truly liveable.

Because at the end of the day, great design doesn’t just look good, it also feels good to live in.