22 October 2026

Australia’s future prosperity depends on how we plan, invest in and shape our cities and towns. With growing pressures on housing affordability, infrastructure, climate resilience and liveability, stronger coordination across governments and industry is essential to delivering better outcomes for communities.

Building Australia’s Next Urban Chapter is a joint policy platform developed by ASBEC and seven other leading built environment organisations. It calls on the Australian Government to build on the momentum of the National Urban Policy 2024 and translate its ambitions into practical, measurable outcomes.

The platform identifies three priority areas for national action:

• Delivering density done well in well located, resilient communities
• Building the urban evidence base to support better planning, resilience and investment decisions
• Making investment work harder by unlocking new sources of capital to deliver urban growth

Together, these priorities provide a practical pathway to improve housing affordability, lift productivity, strengthen climate resilience and create more connected and sustainable communities.

Developed collaboratively by eight peak and professional organisations, the platform reinforces the importance of national leadership and coordinated action across all levels of government and industry.

Read the policy platform: Building Australia’s Next Urban Chapter