What is Melbourne's Missing Middle? The answer can be found in Paris

Australia's most European city should aspire to Parisian density

YIMBY Melbourne is enthusiastic about the Andrews' Government calls for landmark planning reform. Melbourne's land is currently carved up by a decades-long buildup of competing zones and overlays, and to see this stripped back will be welcomed by all.

We call for the Andrews Government to consider the evidence that land use reform is only as beneficial as it is broad. By enabling Parisian density—six storey, mixed-use buildings—to be built across Melbourne, the government will increase the viability of affordable and public housing builds, alongside market housing supply.

"Paris is 40 times denser than Melbourne. It's also considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. What we have right now is an ambitious State Government who wants to create the greatest city in Australia, and provisioning a strong Missing Middle is a big part of that."

We must create neighbourhoods and communities, not just individual buildings

Mixed-use development is important because it enables ground-floor retail and services. YIMBY Melbourne believes all Melburnians should be able to walk to their local doctor, cafe, and library.   Every family should be able to go to a park or playground nearby without needing to use a car.

"Broad Missing Middle upzoning allows actual neighbourhood-level planning, because you're no longer worrying about the web of restrictions on each individual block. Enabling all land to be mixed-use actually enables planners to do proactive planning again."

Enable housing diversity to create a more vibrant city

By reducing planning costs and increasing certainty through broad Missing Middle upzoning and overlay reform, Melbourne will be able to  provide more public, social, and affordable housing. Through making it easier to provide affordable housing near existing infrastructure and amenities, the Missing Middle will create a Melbourne worthy of being Australia's 'most liveable city'.

"Councils, governments, and not-for-profits lose so much time and money in the current planning system that it has become increasingly difficult to provision quality public, social, and affordable housing. By establishing a single land use regime across most of the inner-city, you increase choice for all people. An ambitious Missing Middle is what we need to create a city that works for everyone."