New construction code: New homes to be fit for all

Step-free access and hallways wide enough to fit wheelchairs were among the minimum mandatory standards agreed to at a meeting of building ministers last month.

The changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 will increase the stock of homes with accessibility features and support Australians to transition through life stages in their own homes.

The NCC is Australia’s primary set of technical design and construction provisions for buildings. The new liveability standard will ensure dwellings are easy to enter, easy to navigate in and around, responsive to changing needs of occupants, and capable of easy and cost-effective adaptation.

There will be exemptions for homes on steep slopes and small lots. The changes do not just benefit those who are ageing or who have a disability. If you get injured, have a pram, or want to easily move furniture around, you will be better off.

“Liveable housing design is about changing the way we design homes to make them easier to use and more adaptable to the changing needs of occupants,” says Tim Renwick from the Independent Builders Network (IBN).

Accessibility standards also create aesthetically pleasing houses. Wide hallways and wide doorways make homes opulent.

Tim has been lobbying for years to make accessible housing standard and is very supportive of the changes.