Insights into where new housing is being approved

The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (Council) introduced a Housing Outcomes Framework in its State of the Housing System 2026 report.

The Framework reflects the Council’s vision of the housing system as one that provides affordable, fit for purpose and secure housing for households of all incomes and in all locations.

Outcome 1 of the Framework is that the housing system delivers the homes that Australians need, with a sub‑outcome that the location of new homes meets demand.

The map1 below shows where the building of new homes has been approved2 across Australia. The map helps track progress toward Outcome 1, as an early indicator of the location of new homes.

Key findings

  • Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide accounted for around two‑thirds of home approvals in Australia in 2025⁠–⁠26.
  • Most approvals in these cities were in outer rings.3
  • Most approvals for detached houses and townhouses were in outer rings.
  • Most approvals for apartment units were in inner and middle rings.

Notes: 
1. This map shows building approvals by Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2). Designed to represent cohesive communities, SA2s typically have populations between 3,000 and 25,000 people (averaging around 10,000 people). In urban areas like Sydney, an SA2 usually equates to one or two suburbs. In regional and remote areas, an SA2 represents a meaningful region that also encompasses likely growth areas in the next 10 to 20 years to ensure that SA2 boundaries remain stable over several population and housing censuses. 
2. A building approval is the official permit that allows construction to begin and is distinct from a planning approval and other preliminary permits, such as those issued in the development process. For more information, see: ABS Building Approvals methodology.
3. The definitions of city rings used in this Quarterly Report are drawn from the BCARR City Rings Classification developed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. 
Source: ABS Building Approvals 2026.