My favourite 10 examples where relaxing planning restrictions...
Peter Tulip@peter_tulip
71 views
Jul 24, 2026
~2 min read
Advertisement
1
My favourite 10 examples where relaxing planning restrictions substantially increased housing supply.
1) Auckland
2) Sao Paulo
3) Zurich
4) Campbelltown, SA
5) Lower Hutt
6) New York
7) Austin
8) Edmonton
9) Tokyo
10) Croydon
Here’s a tweet or two on each. 1/15
1) Auckland
2) Sao Paulo
3) Zurich
4) Campbelltown, SA
5) Lower Hutt
6) New York
7) Austin
8) Edmonton
9) Tokyo
10) Croydon
Here’s a tweet or two on each. 1/15
2
The Auckland Unitary Plan in 2016 allowed medium density housing on three-quarters of residential land. Housing construction doubled and the housing stock increased by about 8%
sciencedirect.com/science/articl… 2/15
sciencedirect.com/science/articl… 2/15
3
Greenaway-McGrevy and So estimate Auckland’s upzoning reduced rent by 22% relative to comparable NZ cities.
architecturenow.co.nz/site_media/med…
The bottom quartile of rents benefited most. 3/15
architecturenow.co.nz/site_media/med…
The bottom quartile of rents benefited most. 3/15
4
São Paulo’s 2016 zoning reform increased the housing stock by 1.9%.
Areas with the greatest increase in density saw the largest reductions in rent. nber.org/system/files/w… 4/15
Areas with the greatest increase in density saw the largest reductions in rent. nber.org/system/files/w… 4/15
5
6
Campbelltown, South Australia
Construction increased 67% when higher density was allowed, then returned to pre-reform levels when the policy was reversed.
e61.in/wp-content/upl… 6/15
Construction increased 67% when higher density was allowed, then returned to pre-reform levels when the policy was reversed.
e61.in/wp-content/upl… 6/15
7
Lower Hutt
After Lower Hutt, New Zealand's 6th largest council, allowed greater density a few years ago, housing starts tripled and rents fell 21% relative to peers. sciencedirect.com/science/articl… 7/15
After Lower Hutt, New Zealand's 6th largest council, allowed greater density a few years ago, housing starts tripled and rents fell 21% relative to peers. sciencedirect.com/science/articl… 7/15
8
New York .
Vincent Rollet (2025) provides an amazing amount of detail about what happens when building is allowed.
vrollet.github.io/files/city_str… 8/15
Vincent Rollet (2025) provides an amazing amount of detail about what happens when building is allowed.
vrollet.github.io/files/city_str… 8/15
9
10
Edmonton
In 2024 Edmonton in Canada allowed medium density housing where previously only low density was allowed. Construction boomed.
jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zbr-…
A good video: youtube.com/watch?v=WVQ630… 10/15
In 2024 Edmonton in Canada allowed medium density housing where previously only low density was allowed. Construction boomed.
jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zbr-…
A good video: youtube.com/watch?v=WVQ630… 10/15
11
From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, Tokyo liberalised its planning regulations.
It had huge effects, and disproves the idea that construction stops when prices fall.
But a lot else was going on, so inference is muddy.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00…
ft.com/content/023562… 11/15
It had huge effects, and disproves the idea that construction stops when prices fall.
But a lot else was going on, so inference is muddy.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00…
ft.com/content/023562… 11/15
12
13
.@michael_wiebe provides an accessible summary of several of these studies.
buildingabundance.ca/p/upzoning 13/15
buildingabundance.ca/p/upzoning 13/15
14
I haven't mentioned the countless examples of zoning changes leading to increased supply at a local level.
Like Box Hill in Melbourne or Harold Park in Sydney.
My favourite is Sen̓áḵw. 14/15
Like Box Hill in Melbourne or Harold Park in Sydney.
My favourite is Sen̓áḵw. 14/15
15
What ultimately matters is affordability.
Extra supply reduces prices and rents unless the demand curve is horizontal or there are positive externalities (i.e. gentrification). Both these factors can be important for prices at a local level but not at a metropolitan level. 15/15
Extra supply reduces prices and rents unless the demand curve is horizontal or there are positive externalities (i.e. gentrification). Both these factors can be important for prices at a local level but not at a metropolitan level. 15/15
16
@xmjEE @michael_wiebe has a survey (through 2025).
buildingabundance.ca/p/vacancy-chai…
buildingabundance.ca/p/vacancy-chai…