A lot of narrow pleading here. My own experience
as a mere citizen is that developers have
anothet very soecial skill - riding on ratepayers
and public asets - what economists
call rent- seeking. And they apply this sort
of blather as a cosmetic cover shamelessly.

That government is evil does not mean that developers are any better.

Why not simply allow ordinary people to build their homes as they please?!

"We are surrounded by the results of development" . . a profoundly true statement in another sea of garbage on OLO.
Corruption, bribery ICAC hearings, destruction of the environment.

"With this absolute minimalist approach to regulatory intervention in urban growth, we created large, efficient cities which somehow got it right."

I'm sorry - are you referring to the tangle of streets in the oldest CBDs? That state government spend fortunes on to try to comb into something usable?

Developers and privateers of every stripe are interested in the next 3 years. Only governments and academaia care about the next 50 or 100.

"The roads, railway stations, commercial developments, hospitals and all sorts of community facilities and parklands grew mainly in response to market forces - shaped by consumer demand. "

Parks are placed in response to consumer demand? WTF? Not unless there are turnstiles on them, buddy. Hospitals are placed according to consumer demand? Where does this happen? Community facilities?

Our cities were built via a blend of developers looking to make money and government planning. If it works well as the OP says, then maybe it shouldn't be mucked around with.

>Developers are a much maligned breed<
And with good reason! As they try and cram people into smaller and smaller dwellings, just to maximize their personal profits, and for no other reason, let alone an altruistic streak!

A baby sardine swimming next to his mother, saw the Gold Coast fairly bristling with high rise towers; said, look mum, tinned people!
Rhrosty.

Smaller and smaller boxes are Guv'mint policy. That way they can better overload existing roads, sewers and parks.