Resident third party objections and appeals against planning applications: implications for higher density and social housing-Final Report No. 197

Despite the apparent conflict between participatory planning goals and housing supply, there are significant gaps in the evidence base regarding the influence that TPOAR have on the supply of housing or its effectiveness as a participatory planning mechanism. In particular, the extent to which TPOAR are used to resist HDH in metropolitan cities is yet to be established. Where TPOAR exist, there is no metropolitan-wide data showing the distribution of availability and use by socio-economic status. There is also surprisingly little qualitative data comparing residents', planners' and developers' perceptions of different levels of objection and appeal in relation to HDH. At the same time, the effectiveness of planning approaches characterised by early consultation at a strategic level compared to fast-tracking approaches have not been assessed in terms of housing supply outcomes or participatory planning goals. As a result, the technical limitations of the planning system in mediating community concern about social housing and HDH are poorly understood. This project sought to address these gaps.