Death of the front yard: The quiet change sweeping Sydney suburbs

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Examples of low-density housing within the Winston Hills suburb in the Parramatta local government area. Note: Images on the left reflect the original or older style of construction. Images on the right are representative of contemporary designs. Credit: Cities (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.106929

A new Macquarie University study reveals Sydney suburbs are shifting to denser streetscapes with fewer trees. A typical knock-down rebuild in Sydney's suburbs is wiping out nearly half the front garden and more than 60% of the tree canopy, according to new research published in the journal Cities. Driveways are also expanding—up 57%—as larger houses and double garages increasingly dominate suburban streets.

The study examined hundreds of redeveloped homes across Northern Sydney and Greater Western Sydney, finding the overall size of front yards declined by about 19%, while gardens were increasingly replaced by paved surfaces.

Professor Peter Davies, lead author of the study from Macquarie University's School of Natural Sciences, said the shift reflects both changing lifestyles and planning settings.

"By world standards, Australians build some of the biggest houses and, as a suburban nation, we rely on our car to get around," he said. "The consequence is more space dedicated to the house and car and less to the garden and the urban canopy."

The findings raise concerns about urban heat, biodiversity and livability in Sydney's suburbs, as current development trends move in the opposite direction of the state's urban greening ambitions.

The study suggests the NSW Government is missing its target for 40% urban canopy cover across Greater Sydney, with building projects leading to reduced tree canopy on residential blocks.

"We are sleepwalking ourselves away from a green suburban aesthetic to one dominated by buildings and driveways," said Davies. "If all knock-down rebuilds ideally retained or at least planted a tree in their front yard, we would be well on our way to a greener Sydney."

More information

Peter J. Davies et al, Death of the front yards: How the house and car is replacing residential gardens, Cities (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.106929

Key concepts

land use and land cover

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This content was originally published on The Macquarie University Lighthouse.