A false choice
It’s not apartments everywhere or urban sprawl.
The debate is often framed as a choice between widespread apartment development across established suburbs or continued urban sprawl on Melbourne’s fringe. But this is a false choice.
Population growth does not leave governments with only one planning response. Melbourne has choices. The current reforms represent one particular model of urban growth based on widespread upzoning, market-led redevelopment and standardised building codes.
Other approaches, including locally led planning, targeted redevelopment, better use of existing planning approvals, housing diversity, stronger regional planning and more direct investment in affordable housing deserve proper consideration.
Melbourne needs more homes. It also deserves more than one planning conversation.
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Explore further
- Concerns → What are the alternatives?
Explore alternative approaches to housing growth that could deliver more homes without relying on widespread, one-size-fits-all upzoning. - What we want
See BCG’s vision for housing growth that delivers affordability, liveability, local planning and the infrastructure communities need. - Concerns → Is planning the barrier?
Examine the claim that planning restrictions are the key barrier to housing supply and affordability.