Housing supply, affordability and sustainability are prominent topics in political and community discussions and debate. Federal and State governments are implementing policies and targets that aim to increase housing supply, and with a particular focus on the provision of social and affordable housing. A recent report by the Productivity Commission highlights the low productivity in Australian housing construction, attributed to approvals process and regulation, and the low levels of innovation in the sector. The Australian Government as also introduced programs focused on housing energy efficiency, Your Home, and there is increasing interest in circular economy, indicated by the recently completed project ‘Inquiry into housing in a circular economy’ (conducted at RMIT University in 2021-2023).

Local Government has an important, yet under-researched, role in facilitating housing development in response to these housing challenges. There are obvious responsibilities for Local Government, such as planning and building approvals, but recent research indicates also sets out opportunities to foster and support innovation (Eneqvist & Karvonen 2021). There are also benefits that can arise from precinct-scale developments, that Local Government can facilitate (e.g. Croeser et al. 2021).

Theoretical models for urban precincts and conceptualisations drawn from current scholarship on housing construction will inform the analysis of three case-study housing projects in Australia and internationally from the following project types:

o Local Government-led housing projects/precincts;

o Integration of affordable housing;

o Adaptation of existing buildings for housing.

This project is conducted in partnership with Global South and is funded by the Municipal Association of Victoria.