Youth shift to inner city

The recently published figures from the 2011 census highlight a marked increase between 2001 and 2011 of the 20 – 29 year old demographic moving to inner city suburbs nationally, according to Place Partners.
 
The figures show growth in this age group of 8.1 per cent in Sydney, 5.4 per cent in Melbourne, 3.3 per cent in Adelaide, 2.5 per cent in Perth and 2.1 per cent in Brisbane.
 
Kylie Legge, director of Place Partners and author of Doing it Differently, a book on urban trends, believes this shift highlights the increasing importance of place making in all developments.
 
 ‘In order to attract or retain this highly desirable demographic it is vital that governments, developers and businesses understand the trends and psychology of what makes places liveable and attractive to younger people,’ she says.
 
Legge points to urban trends toward higher densities, more amenity and increased social opportunities in inner cities as a key factor in why youth and talent flock there.
 
 ‘With the average age of first home owners in Australia being 31, the 20-29 year olds are a key market for developments on the drawing board right now. Genuine consideration of what is going to make a place liveable for them is required.’