About this episode
When we talk about Australia’s housing crisis, interest rates and investors dominate the conversation—but the real drivers run deeper. In this episode, we unpack how Australian housing policy—particularly zoning and planning reform—is shaping the housing supply crisis, and whether strategic planning reform can genuinely improve affordability without destabilising the market.We explore the economics behind land scarcity, why middle suburbs have become effectively “locked up,” and how allowing three storey townhouses and gentle density could reshape housing supply. Brendan breaks down what broad upzoning actually means in practice, how Victoria and NSW are approaching reform differently, and whether these changes meaningfully shift feasibility for developers.For investors, this raises the bigger question: if scarcity underpins capital growth, what happens when supply constraints are relaxed? Does planning reform erode returns—or simply create a more functional market?If you care about Australian housing affordability, the housing supply crisis, or the long-term fundamentals of property investment, this episode cuts through the politics and gets to the economics.Episode Highlights03:28 — It’s Planning Bans, Not Approval Delays05:58 — The Real Demand for Missing Middle Housing09:01 — Melbourne’s Affordability Trade-Off Explained13:30 — Development Costs and Feasibility Realities15:31 — The Hidden Zoning Tax on Housing Supply18:06 — Why Townhouses Beat High-Rise in Suburbs21:36 — The Economics of Three-Storey Townhouses24:38 — Land Size, Lot Layouts and Buyer Preferences26:26 — Property Advice and Strategic Thinking27:33 — Sydney vs Melbourne: A Zoning Divide29:01 — NIMBY Politics and the Density Debate34:02 — Can Builders Deliver More Townhouses?38:15 — What Global Upzoning Success Looks Like39:12 — Unlocking Australia’s Locked-Up Suburbs44:04 — Stamp Duty and Why People Don’t Move48:45 — The Big Property Lesson from This Debate49:49 — Final Takeaways and Listener QuestionsLinksPlanning better cities - Grattan InstituteMore homes, better cities: Letting more people live where they want About the GuestBrendan Coates is a leading housing and economic policy expert specialising in Australian housing policy and structural reform. His work focuses on planning reform, housing supply, taxation settings and the l
