This project investigates the impact of different planning and residential density scenarios on the daily lives of people.
Project dates: 2025–2027
The aim of this project is to create insights about the health and wellbeing impacts of different density planning scenarios and contribute to planning reform that will create more liveable suburbs that are better for health.
The Victorian Government has announced new housing targets and associated planning changes, which mean that many people will be living in higher density environments. Higher density neighbourhoods can have multiple benefits on health outcomes, including physical activity, respiratory and mental health, cardiovascular and cancer mortality and road traffic mortality. Yet the features of denser neighbourhoods that promote health, such as ample green space, walkable streets and the availability of local jobs and services, may not eventuate in denser neighbourhoods if they are not prioritised.
Photo: Andy Fergus.
This research assesses the impact of different planning and residential density scenarios on daily lives, health and wellbeing across three locations in Victoria: Niddrie, Bendigo, and Tarneit. Through community perspective panels comprised of current and future residents in these three sites, we are creating insight into the circumstances that influence health behaviours in denser suburbs. Combining panel members' reflections with urban liveability data and planning regulation insights, we are developing scenarios of how the Government’s housing targets might be executed.
Focus groups with planning professionals will provide additional insight into the pressures and opportunities that shape planning decisions. The aim of this project is to enable planners to harness the current moment of planning reform so that health can be better supported in future densification planning.
This project is funded by VicHealth.
- Find more information: Are you interested in a walkable, liveable Tarneit? (PDF 6 MB)
Key people
Professor Andrew Butt
Assoc Dean, Sustain & Urban Plan
Professor Melanie Davern
Professor, Sustainability & Urban Planning
Dr. Ellen van Holstein
Vice Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Level B)
Emma McRae
Research Fellow
Dr. Kimmi Ko
Lecturer, Industrial Design
Katherine Sundermann
Senior Lecturer, Monash University
Matthew Tibballs
Architect and Urban Designer at NH Architecture
