"The council said developments did not need to be for low-cost or affordable housing to be a Special Housing Area."
Nearly 300 houses in Ohauiti and Bethlehem have been added to an impending development boom spurred by the Government's Housing Accord legislation.
It brings the number of houses the council was considering fast-tracking under the new laws to 2265 - enough to accommodate at least 5200 people.
More special housing
areas were expected to be unveiled by Tauranga City Council by the end of the year.
Last week's announcement of the latest proposed special housing areas comes shortly before the council was expected to sign off on the first area in a former camping ground off Waihi Rd. Staff have recommended supporting the application to the Government for 31 semi-detached duplex units.
The latest applications to the council included a 180-house subdivision on 14 hectares of Ohauiti orchards off the end of Alder Drive, opposite Boscabel. If the council supported the application, it would usher in housing for more than 400 people. Average section sizes would be 500 sq m.
