According to a recent survey, residents of Perth’s metropolitan districts are more in favour of density than many would think, especially given NIMBY backlash on certain projects.
The poll by the University of Western Australia’s Australian Urban Design Research Centre of 799 people from various demographics, 70 per cent feel that urban densification in existing neighbourhoods should support population growth.
Furthermore, 70 per cent of respondents claimed they would favour urban densification in their local community.
According to the survey, 60 per cent of respondents who lived in a semi-detached villa or townhouse were 60 per cent less inclined to favour urban densification in their neighbourhood than those who lived in standalone residences.
Furthermore, respondents from generations X and Y were 70 per cent less likely to approve densification in their neighbourhood than baby boomers or the silent generation.
Those not born in Australia were 1.7 times more likely to support densification.
“So why do people support densification in their neighbourhood?” Urban Design Research Centre co-director Julian Bolleter, who presented the findings at a Property Council of Australia WA Division event, said.
“We’ve got a whole number of different factors, one certainly to prevent sprawl, again, that message is coming through clearly.
“Increased vibrancy and street life and amenities and improved public transport services all ranked highly.
“But what I would note here is that there a huge amount of dissonance in the sample… there was not much consensus about any of this. And I think it talks to the fact that there the debates are still very polarized.”
Respondents against densification noted traffic congestion, impact on suburban character and overshadowing as reasons.
The research team investigated public perceptions regarding various types of density, such as density around railway stations, parks, main roadways, and people’s backyards.
Respondents largely favoured development near railway stations while opposing density in their own backyards, so called battle-axe subdivisions.
Sandra Brewer, executive director of the Property Council of Australia WA, said the report reflected some of the results of the Property Council’s own research commissioned last year.
“While there are vocal objectors to densification, these voices are regularly a noisy minority,” she said.
“The opportunity is for planners and decision makers to reflect the consistent research findings proving overwhelming support for density in practice
“For WA to maintain its relative affordability, we must focus on delivering accommodation that adds significant supply to areas with existing infrastructure and diversify housing options in existing suburbs.”