Planning for Growth – The Approach and Opportunities
The City of Unley wants to work with you - our community - to make important decisions about how and where we live and work in our City. By planning now, we can shape a future where Unley remains connected, progressive, liveable, and resilient, with thriving people, climate-conscious neighbourhoods, and strong economic opportunities.
Why plan now?
The City of Unley is a highly desirable place to live, and like all great communities, it is growing and changing. This presents an opportunity for Council, developers, and the community to work together strategically.
The State Government has set a target for Unley to accommodate 3,440 new dwellings by 2051. This target is part of the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan - a 30-year blueprint for sustainable growth across the region.
Council believes we should minimise the risk of future generations being financially pushed to outer Adelaide, far from jobs, services and community. Instead, we must plan smarter, together.
What is Council proposing?
To respond to the State’s housing target, Council has developed Planning for Growth – the Approach and Opportunities, a draft plan that identifies key areas for potential growth. This plan aims to:
- Retain the character and capacity of our neighbourhoods
- Support a well-connected, liveable, and sustainable City
- Align with State Government housing targets.
We want your feedback to help shape this plan.
What will Planning for Growth Achieve?
The draft Planning for Growth Plan outlines the approach used by the Council to identify the general areas of the City of Unley (called precincts) that can sustainably provide for greater diversity in housing and growth in population over the next 25 years, while ensuring the historic character of the City is retained.
The Plan will inform other Council strategic planning initiatives, particularly in delivering the vision and aims of the Unley Community Plan, the Unley City Plan, and a Local Housing Strategy required by the State Government. The Plan itself will not play an ongoing role in the future development of the City of Unley. The Plan does aim to:
- Focus on what matters (eg lack of housing choice and affordability)
- Facilitate what is needed (at present and into the future)
- Ensure what is being put forward is sustainable and of high-quality.
By acting now, we can guide quality-designed housing that also addresses environmental and liveability concerns - such as tree canopy loss and the need for open space. While preserving the many things that make Unley special, the plan also aims to:
- Deliver sustainable growth tailored to each precinct
- Enable diverse housing near walking, cycling, and public transport
- Foster local business and the concept of ‘living locally’
- Strengthen community connections.
How to Have You Say
Online
Start by viewing Planning for Growth – the Approach and Opportunities to understand Council’s proposed direction. Then explore the digital Precinct Boards to see the opportunities identified. You can ‘like’ features, leave comments, suggest improvements, or highlight other ideas.
Ten precincts have been identified:
- Keswick
- Wayville
- Goodwood
- King William Road North
- King William Road
- Unley Centre
- Clarence Park
- Highgate
- Fullarton and
- Arkaba.
Nine precincts and the City Growth Plan Map are presented here for your feedback. The Keswick precinct, which largely comprises the Barracks land, is being separately reviewed by the Council due to the proposed longer-term redevelopment of the land by the State Government.
Consider:
- Do you support the opportunities within each precinct?
- Are the proposed growth areas in the right places and at the right scale?
- Is there a good mix of housing and commercial use?
In Person
You can also attend drop-in sessions where Council staff can answer questions about the proposal in Planning for Growth.
- Monday 24 November - 11am-2pm: Clarence Park Community Centre
- Wednesday 26 November - 12pm-2.30pm: Clarence Park Community Centre
- Monday 1 December - 11am-2pm: Goodwood Library
- Tuesday 2 December - 11am-1pm: (new location) In front of Tonino, 114 King William Rd, Goodwood
- Tuesday 2 December - 4pm-6pm: Goodwood Library
- Thursday 4 December - 11am-1pm: Highgate (Corner of Ferguson Ave and Fullarton Rd)
- Friday 5 December - 11am-2pm: Fullarton Community Centre
- Saturday 6 December - 11am-2pm: Unley Shopping Centre
- Monday 8 December - 11am-2pm: Arkaba Village Shopping Centre
- Tuesday 9 December - 11am-2pm: Unley Shopping Centre
- Wednesday 10 December - 11am-2pm: Unley Library
- Thursday 11 December - 11am-1pm: (new location) In front of Tonino, 114 King William Rd, Goodwood.
Thank you
Your feedback will help shape the final version of Planning for Growth – the Approach and Opportunities, ensuring Unley remains an inviting, green, and liveable City for decades to come.
Consultation closes 5pm, Thursday 11 December 2025.
