The Subversion of Democratic Policy Under a Regime Agenda: The Urban Governance of Residential Development in Melbourne

Abstract

This paper examines residential development in Melbourne over the past two decades, highlighting the gap between metropolitan spatial planning policies promoting consolidation and actual development outcomes characterised by continued greenfield expansion, limited services, and high housing costs. The study argues that development follows an agenda shaped by informal state–market urban regimes rather than democratic planning policy. Analysing tensions between strategic spatial planning and network governance, it contends that formal metropolitan planning frameworks offer stronger democratic legitimacy for urban-scale decision-making. The findings emphasise how political economy and governance structures shape urban outcomes, with broader implications for rapidly urbanising cities worldwide.