A new 40 year plan for Dunedin says the city will need 7600 smaller housing units as its population ages.
The council has issued a draft spatial plan showing how it wants the city to develop by the year 2050.
The plan reveals a vision in which much of Dunedin's development will be outside its centre.
It maps new areas of warehouse apartments in the heritage buildings to the south, and higher density housing in the suburban areas.
Mayor Dave Cull says the city will need to build 7600 residential units to house smaller families and people living on their own.
He says the challenge will be attracting the people and money to drive the changes the council wants.
