Planning for Diverse and Affordable Housing Supply? A Survey of 200 Australian Planning Schemes

Abstract

This paper examines how local plans regulate residential development in Australia, where there has been intense concern over housing supply and affordability. Drawing on repeat surveys of the content of local land-use plans, the study asks: What are the main objectives and mechanisms for residential development control within local plans? To what extent do plans enable or constrain diverse and affordable housing? And how does the content of local plans vary between municipalities and over time? The study finds that newer plans are more likely to contain objectives for housing diversity, but few include specific mechanisms to deliver affordable homes.