Maitland suburbs are leading the charge for residential growth across the Hunter, according to a new report detailing the region's "hotspots" for population increases and building approvals.
Thornton-Millers Forest topped the Hunter in the 2021 Housing Industry Association Population and Building Hotspots list, with 7.5 per cent population growth in 2019/20 and more than $100 million in building approvals.
It comes after the statistical area, which also includes the growing suburb of Chisholm, came in at number one in the 2019 report, with a 7.7 per cent growth rate and $96 million in building approvals.
Next on the list this year was Maitland itself, which includes the CBD, Gillieston Heights, Louth Park and surrounds. That area had 4.9 per cent growth and $59 million in building approvals.
HIA Hunter executive director Craig Jennion said steady land releases along with infrastructure investment had contributed to the city's strong growth.
"Maitland Council over the last decade has been very good at releasing land in a timely fashion," Mr Jennion said. "That's been supported by infrastructure, for example Hunter Water has recognised Maitland as a major growth area and invested in infrastructure such as pipe works to enable that."
The association considers a hotspot to be a statistical area, which are set by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with more than $50 million residential building work approved and annual population growth above the national rate of 1.3 per cent.
There were 10 hotspots on this year's Hunter list - up from six in the 2019 report.
Newcastle-Cooks Hill had the highest building approval with more than $157 million. Its population growth was the region's fifth highest at 3.3 per cent.
Mr Jennion said while other areas were being driven primarily by detached housing, the inner city Newcastle area was attracting a mixture of freestanding houses and apartment blocks.
The HomeBuilder scheme was introduced in June 2020 and the time gap between development applications being lodged and approved meant the affect of the COVID-19 lockdown wasn't felt until about August, Mr Jennion said, so those factors will be reflected next year.
"A record year for detached house building is underway nationwide with over 146,000 detached starts expected in the 12 months to September 2021," he said.
"Australia's population growth has been constrained due to closed borders. COVID-19 has also seen consumer preferences shift away from inner-city apartment style living to detached housing in regional areas.
"This shift could see more regional areas in the next edition of [the report]."
Hunter and Central Coast Hotspots
- Thornton - Millers Forest $100 million residential building approval, annual growth rate of 7.5%
- Maitland $59 million, 4.9%
- Kurri Kurri - Abermain $70 million, 3.8%
- Warnervale - Wadalba $51 million, 3.5%
- Newcastle - Cooks Hill $158 million, 3.3%
- Maryland - Fletcher - Minmi $63 million, 2.7%
- Edgeworth - Cameron Park $54 million, 2.4%
- Maitland - West $122 million, 2.1%
- Morisset - Cooranbong $66 million, 2%
- Branxton - Greta - Pokolbin $74 million, 1.8%
