Delivering suburban densification: Diverse resident groups and strategies of support and resistance

Kristian J Ruming, Sha Liu, Simon Pinnegar, Laura Crommelin, Charles Gillon and Hazel Easthope
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Kristian J Ruming: Macquarie University, Australia
Sha Liu: Macquarie University, Australia
Simon Pinnegar: University of New South Wales, Australia
Laura Crommelin: University of New South Wales, Australia
Charles Gillon: University of New South Wales, Australia
Hazel Easthope: University of New South Wales, Australia

Urban Studies, 2025, vol. 62, issue 5, 868-890

Abstract: Suburbs are at the forefront of urban change, with urban policy looking to increase the density of suburban centres. Thus, the compact city has emerged as a dominant urban policy paradigm, where policy settings are configured to enable densification in designated centres. For some, this is a form of post-suburbanism, characterised by new drivers, experiences and outcomes of suburban redevelopment pressures. However, suburban densification can emerge as a site of contestation as diverse interests, such as residents, developers and governments, come together. We explore three suburban centres in Sydney, Australia, to identify the diverse array of resident positions, objectives and strategies that emerge in response to suburban densification. Drawing from literature on NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard), YIMBY (yes-in-my-backyard) and urban growth machines, we establish an analytical framework that disrupts simple pro- and anti-development positions, identifying five resident groups: supporters; resisters; opponents; expansionists; and beneficiaries.

Keywords: community; land use; neighbourhood; planning; redevelopment/regeneration; resident participation; suburbs; 社区; 土地使用; 街区; 规划; é‡ å»º/æ›´æ–°; å±…æ°‘å ‚ä¸Ž; 郊区 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:62:y:2025:i:5:p:868-890

DOI: 10.1177/00420980241266175

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