Media release

From: Macquarie University

A new study from Macquarie University has found Sydney residents who live in high-density housing report positive wellbeing when their neighbourhoods are well designed.

Published in Cities & Health, the Highs and Lows Project explored how people living in medium and high-density housing across nine local councils in the Northern Sydney region perceive the relationship between their local environment and their health.

Residents were invited to take part as ‘citizen scientists’, submitting data about how features of their dwellings, buildings and neighbourhoods influence their physical, mental and social health.

“We wanted to hear directly from people living in higher-density communities, rather than assuming what their experiences are,” said Dr Josephine Chau, Associate Professor in Public Health at Macquarie University and lead author of the study. “The responses were diverse, but overall more positive than we expected.”

Residents valued:

• Being able to walk to cafés, shops, parks and public transport
• Access to playgrounds and communal green space
• Being close to amenities, yet still part of a lively community
• Having adequate indoor space
• Accessibility, both within their home and the local neighbourhood.

Concerns included noise, dust and traffic congestion, as well as safety hazards, especially around pedestrian safety. Some residents said they felt isolated in developments that lacked shared spaces or natural light.

As the NSW Government targets an additional 92,000 homes in Greater Sydney by 2036, the research demonstrates healthy density is achievable when planners and developers prioritise human wellbeing.

Paul Klarenaar, Director of Population and Planetary Health at NSLHD said: “Listening to and elevating the voices of people already living in higher-density housing, is key to creating healthier, more supportive communities. When residents are actively involved in shaping the future of their neighbourhoods, planning decisions are more likely to reflect real needs and promote wellbeing.”

Dr Chau said the findings provide a local evidence base for understanding both the benefits and challenges of higher-density living.

“As cities grow, this kind of community-level insight can help decision-makers design environments that support health, rather than compromise it,” she said.

The Highs and Lows study was a research collaboration between Macquarie University, Northern Sydney Local Health District and The University of Sydney.