As cities evolve to meet growing demand for housing and amenities, finding a balance between heritage preservation and new development has become a critical challenge. The current debate between NIMBYs (Not in My Back Yard) and YIMBYs (Yes in My Back Yard) often pits retention of heritage and new development against each other.
However, a more balanced and thoughtful path exists: the TIMBY - Thoughtfully In My Back Yard - approach. By prioritising a heritage-based approach, place-based design, collaboration, and community values, the TIMBY approach offers an innovative and sustainable way forward.
Here are the five reasons why the National Trust believe this method is the best way to shape our future neighbourhoods.
1. Heritage Enables Thoughtful Change
Heritage is not a roadblock to progress; rather, it’s a foundation for innovation. By integrating heritage into urban design, we can create spaces that honour the past while addressing present needs. This thoughtful approach ensures that cherished streetscapes and architectural gems are preserved, enriching the character of our communities while enhancing livability. Heritage-informed design doesn’t just save what’s old—it inspires new, innovative solutions that reflect and respect our collective identity.
2. Place-Based Approaches Lead to Better Outcomes
Every neighbourhood has its own unique story, qualities, and charm. A place-based approach ensures that development is informed by local context, values, and conditions. By understanding what makes a place special, we can ensure that growth enhances, rather than erodes, its distinctive character. Thoughtful change not only retains the qualities we love about our neighbourhoods but adds a new layer of richness that future generations can enjoy.
3. Collaboration is Critical
The best design outcomes are achieved when diverse perspectives are brought to the table. By bringing together multidisciplinary expertise and engaging the community in the decision-making process, we can create inclusive, balanced, and well-considered designs. When everyone has a voice, the result is stronger, more cohesive communities. Collaboration isn’t just good for design—it fosters a sense of ownership and pride among residents, leading to healthier and happier neighbourhoods.
4. Local Councils Should Retain Decision-Making Authority
Planning decisions should reflect the values and priorities of the communities they impact. While State Government support is important, it should enhance—not override—local processes. Empowering councils to lead ensures that development aligns with the needs and aspirations of the people who live there. By valuing local input, we can avoid formulaic approaches that strip neighbourhoods of their unique character and vitality.
5. Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions
Uniform, formulaic designs erode the individuality of places, resulting in lifeless, disconnected spaces. The TIMBY approach celebrates adaptive reuse and innovative design that works with the existing fabric of communities. From Collingwood Yards to internationally acclaimed projects in France, this method has proven its ability to create sustainable, vibrant, and liveable communites.
A Thoughtful Future
The TIMBY approach is about finding balance. It’s about blending old and new, respecting the past while embracing the future. By adopting this thoughtful approach, we can address the housing crisis without sacrificing the qualities that make Victoria such a special place to live. Let’s build on our strengths—heritage, creativity, and community—to create neighbourhoods that we can all be proud of. Together, we can design a future that is not only sustainable but also deeply connected to the rich stories of our past.
Read our full opinion piece, TIMBY – Thoughtfully in my back yard – A case for more thoughtful development, here
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