newy.com.au – Thirteen local areas across the Hunter have been identified as home-building hotspots after exceeding benchmarks for population growth and residential approvals in 2024/25.
Branxton-Greta-Pokolbin topped the Hunter list for the third consecutive year, recording annual population growth of 6.8 per cent and $140.9 million worth of residential building approvals.
The findings are contained in the 2026 edition of the HIA Population and Residential Building Hotspots Report, which identifies fast-growing areas with high levels of building activity. To qualify for the Hunter list, an area needed population growth of at least 1.5 per cent and residential approvals worth at least $50 million.
While Branxton-Greta-Pokolbin led the regional ranking, Newcastle-Cooks Hill recorded the Hunter’s highest value of approved residential work at $326.9 million, alongside population growth of 2.4 per cent. It was one of only two areas outside Sydney to appear on the report’s NSW list.
Other leading Hunter hotspots included Redhead, where the population grew by 5.3 per cent and approvals reached $51 million, and Thornton-Millers Forest, which recorded growth of 4.6 per cent and $131.4 million in approvals.
Morisset-Cooranbong posted population growth of 3.5 per cent and $97.8 million in approvals, while Warnervale-Wadalba on the Central Coast was again classified as a hotspot after recording growth of 2.8 per cent and approvals worth $91.4 million.
HIA executive director for the Hunter Craig Jennion said the figures highlighted the need for an ongoing supply of land and housing approvals.
“HIA’s Hotspots Report shows that families are continuing to seek out areas where new housing supply can be delivered, including greenfield communities across the Hunter,” Mr Jennion said.
“At the same time, infill markets are becoming more prominent. Areas such as Newcastle – Cooks Hill, Warners Bay – Boolaroo and Redhead show that multi-unit approvals and renewal in established suburbs are also contributing to the region’s housing pipeline.”
Nationally, 19 of the top 20 hotspots were in greenfield growth areas of Sydney, Melbourne, South East Queensland, Adelaide and Perth. HIA said multi-unit approvals in established suburbs were also increasing, with planning changes encouraging more medium and higher-density development.
“The message for the Hunter is clear: governments need to maintain a steady supply of shovel-ready land, support infrastructure delivery and ensure planning systems can respond to demand for both detached homes and medium and higher-density housing,” Mr Jennion said.
