Apartment size to be controlled

New design controls for high-rise apartments are being drawn up to halt slum developments in Auckland and Wellington.

The Herald understands the controls include minimum sizes for studio apartments and one- to three-bedroom apartments, stopping developers blocking the views of one apartment tower with another tower, and insisting on external ventilation.

The planned controls follow an explosion in the number of cheap residential high-rise towers in central Auckland, leading critics, including Mayor Dick Hubbard, to claim they will become slums and ghetto areas.

Council staff have approved about 8000 mostly cheap apartments in central Auckland, with another 7700 still to be built. Many apartments are as small as 18sq m and most buildings have escaped public scrutiny.

The growing furore over inner-city apartments led the Auckland City Council, the Wellington City Council, the New Zealand Institute of Architects and the Property Council to commission Auckland University Associate Professor of Architecture Clinton Bird last year to review design controls for high-rise apartments.

The review is separate from Mr Hubbard's mayoral urban design taskforce to overhaul the city's lax development controls.

The 14-strong taskforce of leading architects, developers and design professionals, chaired by Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker, is due to give its report to Mr Hubbard, who will release it on Tuesday.

A member of the taskforce, who did not want to be named, said urban design rules were going to become stricter "and some of the development community is going to be upset".

Auckland City planning general manager John Duthie said the aim of Professor Bird's work was to ensure all apartments achieved appropriate living and amenity standards.

Mr Duthie refused to discuss the changes before Professor Bird completed the work next month, except to say they would require changes to the Building Act and relevant codes, and some district plan changes.

Auckland City has imposed a minimum apartment size of 30sq m since October 2003, which has gone unchallenged by developers.

The Herald understands the Bird report will recommend a 30sq m minimum size for studio apartments, 50sq m for one-bedroom, 80sq m for two-bedroom and 90sq m for three-bedroom apartments.

The Bird report will also provide for set-back rules to protect the views of one apartment tower being blocked by another apartment tower; and provide for outdoor ventilation.

Fire safety chiefs have raised concerns about inadequate ventilation in Auckland apartments.

Rangehoods vented internally, and ventilation between bedrooms and living areas are common cost-saving measures in high-rise developments.

The Fire Service said other problems were inadequate access to tower blocks and locked entry doors.

Ambulance staff have complained of tiny lifts being too small to take a stretcher.


APARTMENT CONTROLS

Now

No legal minimum apartment size.

Auckland City applies 30sq m minimum.

Central area district plan allows apartments to be built up against one another.

Most apartment towers approved without public notification.

Lax ventilation controls.

Future

30sq m minimum size for studio apartments, 50sq m for one-bedroom, 80sq m for two-bedroom, 90sq m for three-bedroom flats.

Set back controls to protect apartment views.

Compulsory external ventilation.