Influencing urban development through government demonstration projects

• We examined the influence of a government backed development on building industry.
• Mixed tenure and modular construction elements were being followed informally.
• Environmental sustainability, mixed use and onsite governance were not well known.
• Such developments can influence sustainable urban development practices.
• Need more structured approach for information dissemination

Government-backed high-density infill residential developments are used as a planning policy tool for engaging the building industry and promoting sustainable urban development. There is limited research into the influence such buildings have on the building industry and urban development outcomes. This paper presents analysis from interviews with 14 leading building-industry stakeholders about a demonstration mixed-use building developed by the Victorian state government in Melbourne, Australia. The development included innovative elements addressing environmental sustainability, governance, mixed tenure, mixed use and modular construction. The analysis found that stakeholders were acutely aware of the development, with some innovative elements – such as the modular construction – being monitored by stakeholders informally; other elements – such as environmental sustainability – were of nominal interest. Translation of informal learnings to stakeholder's own companies was lagging. While it is evident that the development has played a role in influencing the building industry to some extent, more effort is required to communicate practical outcomes and learnings in a formal way if sustainable urban development is to be facilitated through the demonstration development planning approach.