Cutting Red Tape Won’t Fix Bad Design
Queensland needs more housing—and quickly. Governments at all levels are now asking whether streamlining planning and building regulation will help.
There’s no doubt the system is overly complex. Three layers of government impose rules with competing aims. But simply cutting them back, without reviewing whether the system is actually delivering good housing, risks locking in the wrong outcomes.
Too much of our new housing already suffers from avoidable flaws: very expensive to heat or cool, without shade, cross-ventilation, windowless bedrooms, blank garage-dominated streets, little greenery, poor privacy, and all too often, construction defects. These are flaws of design that are not effectively addressed through current regulation.
If we reduce regulation without improving design, we might end up with faster approvals, but we certainly won’t end up with better places to live.
So how do we get this right? We need to start with evidence: properly evaluate what’s being built under current rules against what communities need and industry can deliver. Most importantly, embed design expertise in the system. Too much housing is designed by people with no formal design training, while planners aren’t trained to resolve design flaws. Architects and landscape architects need to be part of the solution.
We’re currently advocating for three practical, low-cost steps:
A simple statewide “good design” guide for infill housing and apartments—visual, practical, and accessible to all.
Design expertise for smaller councils through in-house architects or review panels, to resolve issues early.
Pre-approved, climate-smart designs for duplexes and low-rise apartments, streamlining approvals without sacrificing quality.
These measures would speed up delivery while creating homes and neighbourhoods that are more affordable, energy-efficient and liveable.
Smarter regulation, backed by better design, will help Queensland unlock supply without compromising quality.
These are just the headlines of what we’re advocating to State Government in the context of the Queensland Productivity Commission Interim report. – there’s a lot more detail behind it. What do you think about the Productivity Commission’s recommendations to government to ‘streamline planning and regulation’?