Packed like sardines: Urban consolidation and transport planning practice

Internationally, there is a consensus that connecting housing policy with transport policy is essential for enhancing the sustainability and liveability of cities. However, policy and practice to improve the integration of public transport with high-density housing developments are severely lacking in Australia. We examine the turn in Melbourne’s strategic policy objectives towards urban consolidation and investigate how this has been reflected in current transport planning practice. We found that Melbourne’s current transport plans and planning practices do not reflect the turn to urban consolidation. We also found that limited foundational knowledge is one barrier to the reform of these well-established practices.