Apartment building has slowed to a trickle in Melbourne, according to the peak property industry group, as communities and councils across the city reject the blueprint of high density living.

The general real estate slump and a sharp reduction in the amount Chinese money coming into the market has also been blamed for the apartment slowdown, with the industry pleading for help.

The state government has acknowledged developers are “having an issue putting away apartment projects” but intervention to help the industry get back to full capacity looks at least several months away.

From glut to slump: high-rise apartment developments slow to a trickle. Credit:Penny Stephens

Figures from the Property Council show there have been just 2,200 apartments brought to market in metropolitan Melbourne so far in 2019, down from more than 23,000 in each of the boom years of 2014 and 2015.