Residential living must be priority

COVID-19 is having a profound effect in changing the way we live and work.

With many of these changes likely to become permanent, the pandemic is also shaping the future.

Town planning is one of the many aspects that are not immune to change, as we see traditional bricks-and-mortar businesses flee their four walls for a new trading space in the cyber world to comply with social distancing and quarantine requirements.

A recent conversation with a CBD fringe car dealer gave a valuable insight into the virusled evolution of his business and new possibilities that it brings.

Far from demise, this dealer was now selling his vehicles online and storing them remotely, reducing his rent and operational costs.

He was not just adapting but also embracing this change and seeing the benefits it brings through business efficiency.

But what happens to the empty CBD caryard?

A recent council-led economic review identified permanent living in the city centre as essential to the vibrancy and survival of the CBD.

The review was commissioned to identify and address the issues of a CBD struggling to survive with poor economic and social activity.

Although the council has spent millions revamping the city with beautification projects, the report revealed that these alone are not enough to revitalise the CBD.

The problem remains: insufficient people reside in the area.

The review made it clear that more people living in our CBD would provide the stimulus and activity for the precinct to grow and prosper.

What we also know is that this kind of increased population density brings about efficiencies in the provision of transport and utilities.

The cost of moving people and providing services is greatly reduced as we move away from the urban sprawl model to providing compact living where everything is in reach.

While this lifestyle won’t suit everyone, there is plenty of demand from people who want the social, economic and environmental benefits this kind of living brings.

Clearly now is the time to act on the high vacancies and commercial voids by supporting a transition to residential living.

The council needs to take the initiative and conduct a proper review of CBD infrastructure capacity.

From there, it can quantify the impact, cost and benefits of intensification with a view to “upzoning” residential use through planning amendments and even incentives.

Upzoning is not raising height limits.

This represents a valuable opportunity for council to get in the game by putting in place the mechanisms to encourage and support new residential living in the city and fringe locations.

Reinvigorating our city heart through a permanent population increase is considered the smart way forward.

COVID-19 may just have delivered the landscape to achieve it.