Owner-Driven Suburban Renewal: Motivations, Risks and Strategies in 'Knockdown and Rebuild' Processes in Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Decisions by individual owners about reinvesting capital in their homes are important drivers of wider processes of suburban renewal. This paper examines the motivations for owners in mostly middle-ring suburbs of Sydney, Australia, to reinvest through 'knockdown and rebuild' (KDR). This process-not unique to Australia-involves the wholesale demolition of older detached houses and their replacement with completely new dwellings. Until recently, existing literature on housing reinvestment has focused on practices such as renovations or modifications to existing dwellings. Yet, KDR is becoming increasingly popular and moreover appears to involve a distinctive set of actors, drivers and potenti..