High Density Living as a Reliable Solution to Urban Sprawl. The Case of Sydney, Australia

Academic Paper from the year 2017 in the subject Medicine - Public Health, grade: 2, Egerton University, language: English, abstract: High density living is defined as 30 or more dwelling per hectare and embraces units, flats, terraces, townhouses and villas. Additionally, high density living also refers to apartment units in residential blocks of four or more storey. Majority of high density units do not have their own playing ground and share common facilities such as entrance foyers and stairwells. Urban High density living has been considered as one of the core strategies in managing urban growth. In Australia, high density is considered as a vital strategy in managing the urban growth and reducing the negative impact of urban sprawl.

In recent times, cities such as Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane have been epitomized by growth in the construction of high rise apartments. Many young people prefer these kinds of dwelling since they offer advantages of location with proximity to education, jobs and other services. Various researchers points out that high density living has positive impacts such as efficient usage of land, enhanced social interaction and reduced reliance on automobiles. However, this form of living has also drawn criticism due to noise, overcrowding and limited space. The draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney 2031 points out that the populations will reach 1.1 million by the years 2031 hence more houses will be required. Therefore, this discussion paper provides a focused analysis of Sydney as a model city for high density living, a solution to urban sprawl.