Better Cities & Regions

Our Better Cities & Regions team optimises precinct, portfolio and policy outcomes, reducing climate and project risk while maximising environmental and social outcomes at scale.

Better Cities & Regions

Our skills, experience and evidence-based approach enables us to provide targeted advice across urban renewal and greenfield precincts. Our policy, strategy, plans and programs help guide better built environment and community outcomes.

Our experience working for and within Government and the private sector, along with drawing on the interdisciplinary expertise of HIP V. HYPE, ensures we are uniquely placed to help our clients and partners deliver on their environmental and social ambitions. We use a financial and economic lens, maintaining focus on client and stakeholder value.

Our team deeply understands the way we grow and evolve our cities and regions is crucial in delivering a positive and resilient future.

Resilient Precincts

We work with developers, state and local government, and other precinct-scale stakeholders to support the planning, design and delivery of urban, suburban and regional precincts.

Decisions made at this scale have long-term and far-reaching impacts. We focus on providing clear, evidence-based advice that supports sound decision-making and enduring outcomes. Our place-based approach supports liveable, resilient and connected communities, while providing practical advice that remains focused on capital and operational costs over the project life cycle.

We translate social and environmental outcomes into economic and commercial value and help future-proof precincts against climate risk and changing policy and market expectations. Our advice can be delivered either as a standalone service or integrated with other disciplines as part of broader precinct planning, design and delivery.

Precinct Opportunities Analysis & Planning
Sustainability Framework & Strategy Development
Social & Environmental Performance Assessment (Benchmarking & Optimisation)
Social Value / Benefit Assessment
Net Zero Strategy (including Certification)
Precinct LCA / Embodied Carbon Analysis
Climate Risk Assessment / Resilience Planning
Outdoor Thermal Comfort Analysis
Green Star Communities

Case studies:

Western Melbourne Precinct Sustainability Strategy, Development Victoria

Tapangka Sustainability Strategy, Renewal SA

Mullumbimby Hospital Redevelopment, Byron Shire Council

Climate Strategies & Programs

Focusing on practical climate and sustainability initiatives leads to measurable outcomes and benefits that go beyond the environmental. We work with governments, community and a range of other clients to develop climate and sustainability strategies, plans and programs.

We also support portfolio and asset owners, such as independent schools, to improve environmental performance across the full asset lifecycle, from planning and investment through to operation and renewal.

We provide end-to-end support, helping clients move from strategy into delivery in a way that is achievable and aligned with available resources and processes.

Our approach is grounded in evidence and a clear understanding of local context, operating environments and organisational priorities. We recognise that effective climate and environmental action requires a strong financial and economic case, and we work collaboratively to build a clear rationale for investment and action.

Climate Strategy & Planning
Carbon Reduction / Net Zero Planning
Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation / Resilience Planning
Sustainability & Environment Strategy
Climate Vulnerability Assessments
Circular Economy Planning
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
Climate Action Business Cases & Investment Logic Frameworks
Asset & Portfolio Strategy
Project & Program Design, Implementation and Monitoring & Evaluation

Case studies:

Merri-bek City Council Asset Climate Vulnerability Assessments

Climate Change Risk Assessment, City of Monash

Suburban Land Agency Adaptation and Resilience Plan, Canberra

Planning & Policy

Spanning local and state planning systems, we focus on the intersection of climate and sustainability with land use, built form and the planning system. Working with governments nationally, we develop planning policy, frameworks, tools and guidance to support better urban development outcomes. We also assist a range of other client, including the private sector, in improving the policy settings that inform their work.

Grounded in evidence and practical experience, we combine deep planning systems knowledge with contemporary sustainability, climate and resilience expertise to support informed decision-making.

A key differentiator is our ability to road-test policy against real delivery outcomes. Drawing on HIP V. HYPE’s in-house development business, we understand how policy will operate in practice, where risk may arise, and how outcomes can be strengthened without undermining feasibility.