development. It’s quite a different method.” They also work in reverse, where a developer may have land but they are unsure how to get a desirable grid pattern to accommodate terraces – and that’s were Thompson Building Group jumps in. Thompson’s experience and their innovative way of constructing the terrace homes sets them apart from their competitors. “We work insideout,” says Renita. “Because they are double built to boundary, that means the homes are all individually titled. There’s no body corporate in this process. You purchase it like a normal home on your own lot freehold. The difference is there’s only a 50-to-100 millimetre gap between yourself and your neighbour. There is no common wall.” The point of difference from a traditional build is that the work is completed in small spaces. “Small lots mean more affordability,” she says. “The land size is competitively priced. The build cost however is typically higher because we’re working in these tighter spaces with smaller homes, so in general you’re paying more for the build per square metre but less for the land so as an overall package it’s less expensive than a traditional house and land package, however, gaining more home than land in most cases.” This is a very affordable option for first time buyers and downsizers, but the education process for public outreach is long, says Renita. “You have a sense in Australia that we have all this space, which we do, but we also have an affordability crisis on our hands.” When explaining and educating people on terrace homes, Renita finds a very large portion of OCTOBER 2024
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