Abstract: Policies and plans directing urban growth towards urban centres is common among cities in Australasia and North America, with the idea of establishing compact urban form, urban consolidation and housing intensification. The strategy typically requires the establishment of an urban growth boundary aimed at preventing unsustainable sprawl, and concentrating future growth in higher density housing typologies, where the outcome sought is an enhanced sense of urban ‘liveability’. Experience from other cities reveals problems of implementation that include occupant resistance to higher density living and market resistance to investment in the associated housing typologies. This paper extracts key findings from a larger research project investigating three cases studies of medium density housing in Auckland. The project investigated the efficacy of the underlying urban planning tools to deliver the compact urban form; resident perceptions of living in their medium density accommodation and the associated town centres; and understanding the price dynamics of the developments. The findings suggest a degree of alignment with the compact city planning aims, but also underscores areas of disconnection. Positively, residents express reasonable satisfaction with their apartment living and the amenities of the associated town centre, and instances of child-friendly design. Among problems found to realising compact development aims are the ineffective nature of the planning tools employed, difficulties with strata title governance, that the perceived amenity value of town centres is not being reflected in property values, and the persistent aspirations for the suburban house. These are among potential obstacles to achieving compact city aims and also frame areas for more research.