Out of the box: the hidden impacts of urban consolidation and apartment living on households with children, and future implications: a Sydney case study

ABSTRACT This article examines the impacts of urban consolidation and apartment living on households with children in the contexts of housing choice and affordability, liveability, and children’s spontaneous outdoor play through a case study in the Lane Cove LGA, Sydney. It challenges ideals and planning presumptions built into urban consolidation, and the current approach to housing provision based on ‘housing targets’. The analysis is primarily derived from comparative qualitative resident interviews, supplemented by fieldwork and policy analysis. Findings suggest that urban consolidation in its current form effectively works against households with children directly and indirectly, with various flow-on effects. It is suggested a reframing is required, particularly in the context of housing diversity, in order to significantly improve outcomes for this household type.