London is being urged to look towards cities like Paris and Auckland as models for tackling its chronic housing shortage through mid-rise developments. These cities have embraced buildings between five and nine storeys to create denser, yet more human-scaled urban environments—offering an alternative to London’s current mix of mostly low-rise housing and high-rise towers.

According to the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee, in 2021, a striking 88.3% of London’s homes were in low-rise buildings—such as single-family houses, bungalows, or flats in two to five storey blocks—compared to just 41% in Paris, 48% in New York, and 62% in Tokyo. This imbalance suggests that London’s approach to density is underutilising space that could ease its housing crisis. Ministers have set ambitious targets for London to build 88,000 new homes annually as part of a national goal to deliver 1.5 million new dwellings by 2029, prompting fresh debate on how the capital can boost its supply sustainably.

The Paris model, exemplified through its local urban plan known as Le Plan local d'urbanisme (PLU), restricts new buildings to a maximum height of 37 metres and tightly controls where high-rise towers can be located. This policy has resulted in a distinctive network of mid-rise blocks fostered by an extensive tram system that supports dense, well-connected suburban neighbourhoods. Nicholas Boys Smith MBE, founder of the Create Streets think tank, praised Paris for its "astonishing quality" of mid-rise housing and highlighted how transport infrastructure like trams make such densification both feasible and effective. This approach balances density with vibrant, walkable communities offering local amenities such as shops and pubs, integral to a sustainable urban lifestyle.

Auckland has similarly adopted policies to compel densification around train stations, including approving developments up to 10-15 storeys near transport hubs. While these are slightly taller than typical mid-rise buildings, the principle remains encouraging for addressing housing needs close to public transit. Russell Curtis, chair of Barnet Quality Review Panel, noted that increased density near stations could deliver up to 850,000 homes across London if applied widely. Auckland’s policy shift has already had a "profound effect on rents and house prices," indicating that strategic densification can help moderate housing costs.

Closer to home, Croydon has been highlighted as a microcosm of successful densification, where a programme delivered around 2,000 new homes in developments of fewer than ten units. This effort has stabilized local house prices and rents, proving that encouraging modest increases in density can produce tangible benefits without high-rise construction. Curtis emphasised that certainty for developers in such projects encourages timely delivery and suggested extending this ‘automatic replacement of corner plots’ principle across London to achieve meaningful densification.

Experts also warn that London’s lower density compared to other global megacities is a barrier to solving its housing crunch. Maurice Lange of the Centre for Cities pointed out that London’s core density is half that of Paris, and its suburbs are even less dense than comparable areas in Japan. He identified transport hubs as prime locations where mid-rise housing should be a priority to create more compact, connected communities.

There is concern, however, that London’s recent emphasis on taller tower blocks might be eroding not only architectural quality but social cohesion. Boys Smith argued that mid-rise development strikes a vital balance—giving residents control over their immediate living environment while fostering neighbourhoods with essential amenities within walking distance. Shreya Nanda, an advisor to the housing campaign group London YIMBY, emphasised that mid-rise blocks should become a "base expectation" for new developments to improve affordability and help younger people and families stay in the capital.

Currently, the 2017 London Plan does not include a specific policy on mid-rise housing, but this is expected to change. Mayor Sadiq Khan’s forthcoming London Plan, due in 2027, promises to explore ways to encourage mid-rise developments as a key strategy to optimise land use sustainably and meet housing demand.

Internationally, the appeal of mid-rise is underlined by architectural innovation focusing on liveability and community-building. Projects such as Paris’s La Serre, a mid-rise greenhouse apartment complex, and New Zealand-born architect Brendan MacFarlane’s Hérold social housing highlight how mid-rise design can integrate green spaces, sustainability, and social cohesion. Moreover, the medium-rise housing model has historical precedent in cities like Berlin and Rome, showing that six- or seven-storey apartment blocks can balance density with quality of life effectively.

In London, planners and housing experts increasingly advocate for a shift away from the polarised choice between sprawling low-rise suburbs and imposing high towers towards mid-rise typologies that meet the city’s urgent housing needs while preserving its character and community.

📌 Reference Map:

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  • Paragraph 4 – [1] (MyLondon), [3] (The Urban Developer)
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  • Paragraph 11 – [1] (MyLondon), [3] (The Urban Developer), [6] (The Regency Society), [7] (ArchitectureNow)

Source: Noah Wire Services