[PODCAST] Australia’s Missing Middle: The Property Development Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight

Australia’s housing debate seems to offer us two choices: a detached home on an increasingly unaffordable block of land, or an apartment in a large tower.

Between those two forms of housing is what planners call the “missing middle”.

This includes duplexes, terraces, townhouses, maisonettes, courtyard housing and small low-rise apartment buildings. They provide more homes than a conventional suburban subdivision, while retaining much of the space, privacy and neighbourhood character people value.

So why aren’t we building more of them, particularly in the well-located middle-ring suburbs where people want to live?

Our households are getting smaller, our population is ageing, affordability has deteriorated and many people want to remain close to family, employment, transport and familiar communities without maintaining a large home and garden.

Missing-middle housing appears well suited to these needs, and in my mind, they make great investment properties.yet it remains genuinely missing from much of our new housing supply.

In this episode I speak with Rebecca Lloyd Jones about Australia’s missing middle and the housing options between detached homes and high-rise apartments.

I explore why townhouses, terraces, duplexes and low-rise apartments better reflect Australia’s changing household demographics.

Rebecca explains how medium-density housing can support singles, families, downsizers and multi-generational households without sacrificing lifestyle.

We examine why established suburbs, walkability, mature trees, transport and amenity make well-designed medium-density properties appealing to owner-occupiers and investors.

I also discuss the difference between planning potential and financial feasibility, and what better housing development could mean for Australia’s future.

Takeaways

•  Australia needs more housing between houses and towers
• Townhouses can suit changing household demographics
• Walkability strengthens demand in established suburbs
• Downsizers want lifestyle quality, not compromise
• Medium density supports multi-generational living arrangements
• Mature trees add irreplaceable property value
• Planning approval does not guarantee project viability
•  Construction costs can undermine development feasibility
• Good design protects long-term housing appeal
• Outer-suburb townhouses may lack essential amenity

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Michael Yardney

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