Medium-density housing on the rise

Looking at 2016’s census dwelling data, CoreLogic research analyst Cameron Kusher said there has been a shift towards medium-density housing across Australia, and the trend looks to continue.

“Interestingly, while driving around inner-city areas, you would be led to believe that it is higher density units which have been most abundant in new supply, the data points to medium-density supply having ramped up the most,” Mr Kusher said.

Melbourne had the largest increase of medium-density housing at 61 per cent, followed by Perth at 49.4 per cent, Adelaide at 46.5 per cent, Canberra at 36.9 per cent, Brisbane at 29.6 per cent and Sydney at 17.9 per cent.

“In each of these cities, except for Adelaide and Perth, separate house stock saw the smallest increase of the three housing types over the five years,” Mr Kusher said.

Separate houses were the most popular property type mentioned in the census, although the proportion of separate houses has reduced, while medium and high-density housing making a small, but increasing, proportion.

“Ten years ago in Sydney, 61.7 per cent of housing stock was separate houses, and in the latest census, 55.7 per cent of housing stock was separate houses,” Mr Kusher said.

“If this trajectory continues, by the 2026 census, less than half of Sydney’s housing stock will be separate houses.”

Mr Kusher said the rise of lifestyles associated with being close to a city centre and the development of infrastructure had led to an increase in medium and higher-density dwellings and detached housing construction close to city centres.

“Although approvals for these types of properties has slowed recently, it is anticipated that construction of medium and high-density dwellings will remain elevated relative to historic levels,” he said

“I believe we’ll see the shift towards a greater proportion of capital city housing, being medium and high-density, will continue over the coming years.”

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