The Missing Middle

Urban population growth in large Australian and New Zealand cities has a significant impact on the way we design our cities. Despite evidence suggesting there is a common preference for standalone low-density houses among New Zealanders, affordability, land supply and attitudes towards urban sprawl pose significant constraints. To address this issue, proposed changes to Wellington’s District Plan aim to promote densification around transport nodes, predicated on the notion that building higher will enhance the economy and accommodate more people. Although many studies support this claim, equivocal strategies within Wellington’s growth frameworks suggest the basis for determining building heights is unprecedented; raising particular concern for the future liveability of our city. This research endeavors to critique how Wellington plans to accommodate the next 30 years of population growth, utilising data from Sense Partners and Wellington’s Proposed District Plan. Contrary to current proposals, this research anticipates that specific site constraints have not been adequately considered, necessitating the need for a new framework. Incorporating resident feedback through surveying local neighbourhoods and drawing insights from international models will serve as crucial indicators of how to enhance liveability, particularly for high-density residential buildings. Articulating a new plan for this typology is deemed essential to address existing gaps within current district plans, ensuring that densely populated neighbourhoods prioritise liveability.