New polling reveals NIMBY and YIMBY generational divide across Australia
Fresh data shows younger generations back the Yes In My Back Yard movement – and are more likely to be open to new and higher density housing developments in their area.
New data has revealed the NIMBY-YIMBY generational divide in NSW and Australia, with younger generations increasingly more likely to want, and be open to, housing developments in their area, with a preference for “human-scale” and small-sized complexes.
Polling compiled by The Susan McKinnon Foundation, a nonpartisan philanthropic foundation, has revealed what while younger Australians are increasingly open to more housing density in their suburb – Yes In My Back Yard – older generations are not.
Business Western Sydney executive director and Housing Now chair David Borger, who is hosting a summit on Thursday where the data will be presented, said resistance to higher density development needed to end.
“The golden generation of property ownership has been kind to baby boomers and their parents, but not to those below them,” he said. “Baby boomers have a social responsibility to support more housing development to allow the next generation to live close to work, family and amenities. If we hold change back, we are needlessly tearing at the fabric of communities.”
The poll, which surveyed 3000 people nationally, showed the generational divide in people’s tolerance of density, as well as a preference for townhouses or small-sized developments of one to three storeys.
In NSW, 39 per cent of Gen Z respondents wanted to see more single houses and 32 per cent wanted to see more small-sized complexes in their area, with 19 per cent against.
This is compared with 31 per cent of Gen X, who wanted less small-sized developments, 39 per cent of boomers, and 54 per cent of the post-war generation.
Nationally, boomers and their parents were more than twice as likely to be resistant to new apartment buildings in their area compared with younger generations
In September, NSW Premier Chris Minns revealed ambitions for a “Parisification” of Sydney, with more mid-size complexes to alleviate the housing crisis.
Planning Minister Paul Scully told The Australian “more housing in suburbs gives young people a choice to live near their parents, but not forced to keep living with them”.
“The more we sprawl outwards, the more it costs to support houses, with public transport, schools, parks, streets, pipes and wires,” he said.
McKinnon Poll program lead Matt Crocker said the polling showed “generational differences”.
“Young people are evidently more supportive of additional density, and that is missed in the debate,” he said.
“What is also clear is that the preference is for human-scale density, which is far more acceptable (to people), and that the community supports and are comfortable with.”
Sydney YIMBY organisation chair Justin Simon said older generations were “comfortable with the status quo”.
“Older people are afraid that their suburb will change,” he said.
“Younger people, however, are afraid they won’t be able to afford to live in their suburb.”
Mr Simon said he and other members had attended council LEP meetings and it was noticeable that the “30-ish-olds” were in “stark contrast” to older, anti-development attendees.