Adding Without Subtracting: A Community-Based Approach to Incremental Affordable Housing Development
PhD Scholarship
This PhD scholarship is provided as part of the NSW Affordable Housing Network. The successful candidate will work closely with academic researchers, government agencies and housing sector partners. This PhD will research the challenges of affordable housing through collective, consensual, and neighbourhood-scale approaches to incremental affordable housing.
Background & Rationale
The majority of Australia’s urban land is already developed as low-density suburbs, leaving limited opportunities for new affordable housing without disrupting existing communities. At the same time, community resistance to infill development remains one of the most significant barriers to increasing supply. Many residents' fear loss of amenity, neighbourhood character, or control over local change.
This PhD responds to these challenges by exploring collective, consensual, and neighbourhood-scale approaches to incremental affordable housing. Rather than relying on top-down planning or large-scale redevelopment, the research investigates how communities can participate in shaping small, distributed additions to existing suburbs, “adding without subtracting,” while improving amenity for current residents.
Aim: To develop a community-based, co-designed model for incremental, affordable housing in established suburbs that increases supply while enhancing neighbourhood amenity.
Key Questions:
- What international best-practice models exist for neighbourhood-level co-design of affordable housing?
- How can communities meaningfully participate in shaping incremental housing additions?
- What social, spatial, and governance factors support community support of new affordable housing?
- How can co-design processes shift perceptions and build legitimacy for affordable housing in establishedsuburbs?
- What tools or frameworks can help practitioners, councils, and housing providers implement incremental, community supported development?
Scope of Research
The research will focus on urban, suburban and peri-urban neighbourhoods in the Hunter region, with potential for broader applications across NSW. It will examine:
- Neighbourhood-scale co-design processes
- Community attitudes, perceptions, and decision making
- Incremental and small-scale infill housing models
- Governance, planning, and delivery frameworks
- Pilot projects (1–3) undertaken with local neighbourhoods
Methodological Approach (Indicative)
A mixed methods approach will be used, including
- International literature and precedent mapping
- Participatory co-design workshops with neighbourhoods
- Pilot projects in the Hunter region
- Interviews with residents, councils, and housing providers
- Spatial analysis of incremental infill opportunities
- Development of a practitioner-focused “Incremental Housing Toolkit”
- Ethical, inclusive, and culturally appropriate engagement will be central to the research.
Expected Outcomes & Contributions
The research will produce:
- A mapped overview of international best practice in neighbourhood scale co-designs scale
- Evidence from 1–3 pilot projects demonstrating community supported incremental housing
- A practical Toolkit for practitioners, councils, and housing providers
- Policy and governance recommendations for NSW
- A model for increasing supply within existing suburbs while improving amenity
- Strategies for shifting public perceptions of affordable housing
The project will contribute to planning, design, policy, and community engagement practices across NSW.
Alignment with NSW Affordable Housing Network Priorities
This project strongly aligns with the Network’s first cohort priority themes:
Accelerate Home Supply: By developing a model for incremental, small-scale additions within existing suburbs, the research supports faster, more flexible, and more politically feasible increases in housing supply.
Shift Perceptions: Neighbourhood-level co-design directly addresses community resistance by building trust, legitimacy, and shared ownership of affordable housing outcomes.
Utilise Existing Stock: The research focuses on repurposing, adapting, and adding to existing suburban land and housing, reducing the need for new greenfield development.
Industry, Government, and Community Engagement
Potential partners include:
- Government authorities and agencies
- Hunter region Community Housing Providers (CHPs)
- Local neighbourhood groups and community organisations
These partners may support pilot projects, provide data, participate in co-design processes, and help translate findings into policy and practice.
These partners may support pilot projects, provide data, participate in co-design processes, and help translate findings into policy and practice.
Candidate Profile (Indicative)
Honours or master’s degree in architecture, urban design, urban planning, human geography, social sciences, or related fields
- Strong interest in affordable housing, community engagement, and urban policy
- Experience with qualitative and/or participatory research
- Ability to work collaboratively with communities and stakeholders
- Strong communication skills
- Eligibility for PhD admission at the University of Newcastle
Scholarship & Support
A 3.5-year PhD scholarship will be offered as part of the NSW Affordable Housing Network, subject to University of Newcastle HDR admission requirements. Stipend rates follow UON’s published scholarship guidelines.
Location & Mode
Based primarily at the University of Newcastle, School of Architecture and Built Environment. Hybrid arrangements may be considered depending on project needs and supervisory approval.
PhD Scholarship details
Funding: NSW Affordable Housing Network and Doctoral Training Centre $38,938 per annum (2026 rate) indexed annually. For a PhD candidate, the living allowance scholarship and tuition fee scholarship are for 3.5 years. Scholarships also include up to $1,500 relocation allowance.
Supervisor: Dr Hugo Moline, Dr Maggie Tang, Dr Sarah Breen Lovett
Available to: Domestic students
PhD
Eligibility Criteria
The applicant will need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for admission.
Application Procedure
Interested applicants should send an email expressing their interest along with scanned copies of their academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of their research interests and a proposal that specifically links them to the research project.
Please send the email expressing interest to Sarah.BreenLovett@newcastle.edu.au by 5pm on 20 April 2026.
Applications Close 20 April 2026 Apply Now
- Contact: Dr Sarah Breen Lovett
- Phone: +61 2 4055 0250
- Email: Sarah.BreenLovett@newcastle.edu.au
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.