Gilbert + Tobin has advised community housing provider Bridge Housing on the financing of its Merrylands project – a landmark social and affordable housing development in Western Sydney. The transaction supports the turnkey acquisition and development of 174 dwellings, comprising of 83 social and 91 affordable homes.
Marking a major step forward for the community housing sector, the $134 million financing package is among the first to combine funding from Housing Australia’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) and Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator (AHBA) programs with commercial sub-debt. This innovative structure demonstrates how government programs and private finance can be integrated to deliver large-scale housing outcomes, offering a model for future projects as Australia’s housing funding landscape evolves.
G+T provided end-to-end support across financing, governance, tax and project services. The team was led by partner Adela Smith, supported by Caroline Mathie, Jack Jin, Melinda Cook , Darren Fittler, Elizabeth Wighton, Neha Sharma, Hanh Chau, Zac Kerr and Lillian Campion.
Partner, Adela Smith said:
This transaction represents a genuine step change for the community housing sector. It highlights the power of collaboration between government and private capital to deliver lasting social outcomes. We’re proud to have supported Bridge Housing in creating a financing model that will help unlock the next generation of affordable housing projects.
