Australia’s National Housing Accord is one of the most ambitious housing policy commitments in living memory — 1.2 million new well-located homes over five years. This long-form post from Nexus Developments is an honest developer’s view of where the Accord sits at the halfway mark, what would have to change for the back half to deliver, and how Nexus Developments is contributing 600+ dwellings to the target.
WHAT THIS GUIDE COVERS
01. What the National Housing Accord is
02. Where the Accord stands at the halfway mark
03. What we are seeing on the ground
04. What would help the back half deliver
05. What developers can do — and what they can’t
06. Where Nexus Developments sits in the Accord delivery story
07. Frequently asked questions
What the National Housing Accord is
The National Housing Accord is the federal government’s commitment to deliver 1.2 million new well-located homes over five years. It is a federation-style commitment — execution depends on dozens of moving parts: state planning systems, council disposition, construction labour availability, materials cost, capital availability, federal-state coordination.
Where the Accord stands at the halfway mark
Delivery against the headline target has been uneven. Some states are running ahead; others are running materially behind. The bigger story is sectoral rather than geographic: detached housing in growth corridors is broadly on track, mid-density infill is constrained by planning, and build-to-rent and SDA are operating on different timelines because the underlying capital structures are different.
What we are seeing on the ground
- Planning timelines remain the single largest bottleneck in most states
- Construction cost has stabilised but at a higher base than pre-Accord assumptions
- Labour pipeline — especially trades — is improving but not fast enough
- Capital availability is project-specific: well-governed projects still raise; speculative ones do not
- SDA submarket dynamics are uneven — supply has outpaced tenant demand in some outer-metro corridors
Nexus Developments sees these dynamics directly across its active project pipeline. The implication for capital allocation is to lean further into the governance framework, the partner network, and the corridor-data-first acquisition discipline — not less.
What would help the back half deliver
- Faster, more predictable planning at state and council level — including statutory timelines that hold
- Stable rules for build-to-rent and SDA so capital can model long-duration outcomes
- Continued migration of skilled construction labour into Australia
- Procurement reform on government-led housing where it has stalled
- Coordination between Help to Buy expansion and growth-corridor supply to avoid demand spikes outpacing approvals
“Targets are useful as a coordinating signal. They’re not a substitute for the unglamorous, state-level execution work.”
What developers can do — and what they can’t
Developers can sequence projects, design to standard, deliver on programme, distribute returns on time, and operate to a governance standard that attracts institutional capital. That is what Nexus Developments does. Developers cannot fix state planning timelines, decide construction-input costs, or expand the trades workforce on their own. The Accord’s back-half delivery is, ultimately, a coordination problem — and coordination is harder than capital.
Where Nexus Developments sits in the Accord delivery story
Nexus Developments is contributing more than 600 dwellings to the National Housing Accord target across the active and approved pipeline. That figure is comprised of lots and units already approved, under construction, or under planning — across Nexus Communities residential, Nexus Care NDIS SDA, and Nexus Learning education-adjacent housing. The contribution is reported alongside Nexus Developments’ financial reporting and updated each quarter.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the National Housing Accord?
The National Housing Accord is the Australian federal government’s commitment to deliver 1.2 million new well-located homes over five years, in cooperation with states and territories.
How is the National Housing Accord progressing?
Progress at the halfway mark is uneven across states and across sectors. Nexus Developments is contributing 600+ dwellings to the target across the residential, SDA and education pipelines.
How many homes is Nexus Developments contributing to the Accord?
More than 600 dwellings across the active and approved pipeline. The contribution is reported alongside Nexus Developments’ financial reporting.
What slows down Accord delivery?
Planning timelines, labour pipeline, construction-input costs, and state-federal coordination are the four most cited factors among developers. Read Nexus Developments’ ESG approach for the company’s broader commentary.
Where can I read more from Nexus Developments on housing policy?
Subscribe to Nexus Developments insights for ongoing housing-policy and market commentary.
About Nexus Developments
Nexus Developments is a leading multi-sector property development company based in Melbourne, Australia, with a project pipeline of over $400 million+ across residential, NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation, Montessori childcare, education and commercial real estate. Founded by Bhupendra (Ben) Sethia — a 25-year industry leader and Founder Chairman of JITO Australia — Nexus Developments operates with institutional-grade governance, partnerships with Colliers and Maddocks, a 7-8 star NatHERS energy standard on every new dwelling, and a commitment to contribute more than 600 dwellings to the National Housing Accord.
Across Nexus Communities, Nexus Care, Nexus Learning, Nexus Commercial and the Nexus Wealth Fund, Nexus Developments delivers projects designed to compound long-term value for investors and communities alike. Whether you are an investor seeking exposure to Melbourne property development, a first-home buyer looking at Melbourne growth corridors, a family considering NDIS-accredited Specialist Disability Accommodation, or a landowner looking for a delivery partner, Nexus Developments has a pathway for you.
Take the next step with Nexus Developments
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Disclaimer: This article is general information only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Investments in Nexus Wealth Fund products are available to wholesale and sophisticated investors as defined under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Renders are artist impressions and indicative only.