Isaac Davies and Bernard Orsman take a closer look at the Auckland Unitary Plan announced this afternoon.
• Rural urban boundary expanded to include 30 per cent more land and can be changed through a private plan change • Plan aims to meet Auckland's growth and double the feasible housing capacity for 422,000 dwellings • Ensure sufficient capacity for the next seven years • Enable the growth and development of new or existing rural towns and villages • Remove density controls in residential zones • Delete a pre-1944 building demolition control overlay and protect heritage places and special character areas • Remove or reduce requirements for on-site parking
More urban sprawl and greater intensification have been recommended in a new rulebook for Auckland released today.
The city's urban boundary will be expanded to free up 30 per cent more land for housing and many homeowners, particularly in the central isthmus, will find their homes rezoned for intensification.
These are among the big changes recommended by an independent hearings panel, for the new rulebook, formally known as the Unitary Plan.
Auckland council's new rulebook telling people what can be built,where and what height buildings can go has been three years in the making.
The panel has come up with a proposal to provide 422,000 new dwellings over the next 30 years, 270,000 within the existing urban boundary and 152,000 in rural areas and around towns like Warkworth, Pukekohe and Kumeu.
The panel has recommended that 22 per cent of single homes on traditional sections be rezoned for intensification, including 42.6 per cent in the central isthmus.
Housing zones identified for more intensification have been increased in area by more than 50 per cent and a terraced housing and apartment zone, allowing for five storeys, and in some case six or seven storeys, will increase in area by 25.3 per cent.
Density controls will go in residential zones, under the recommendation Most of the extra intensification will occur along transport routes and close to town centres.
Auckland councillors will meet on August 10 for several days to consider the recommendations.
Decisions will be notified on August 19 and there are limited appeal rights until September 16.
Mayor Len Brown said the release of the plan was a major milestone.
"We've had four years of debate and everyone has had ample opportunity to have their say. The process from here is that we as a council need to consider the panel's recommendations and make final decisions," he said.
Deputy Mayor and Auckland Development Committee Chair Penny Hulse said the panel's recommendations must now be accepted in part or in full or rejected with clear reasons.
"There is now a very clear legal process for councillors to follow. This is a crucial time for Auckland as we consider the recommendations of the panel."
Reaction to Unitary Plan recommendations
Mayoral candidate Mark Thomas - 'Gangbusters approach'
Aucklanders will be alarmed at a "gangbusters approach" to new housing in the latest version of the city's unitary plan, says mayoral candidate Mark Thomas.
Thomas says the independent hearings panel's proposal, released today, would expand the rural-urban boundary by 30 per cent, permitting 37,000 new homes in areas now zoned for rural use.
The proposal would also reduce the zone for low-density single housing by 22 per cent, allowing much more intensive development within the current urban boundaries.
"The Panel's recommendations represent a 'gangbusters' approach to new housing conceding that a future over supply is preferable to what we have today," he said.
"The Panel has added rocket fuel to the original Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. Very significant changes have been made including adopting most of the earlier residential out-of-scope proposals that Council rejected in February and abandoning the pre-1944 character protection overlay with no replacement provision.
"Based on my initial assessment, I don't believe the panel has established the balance needed for growth in Auckland and I suspect many Aucklanders will be alarmed at what they see."
Auckland City Council representatives Penny Pirrit and John Duguid speak to media on the release of new housing plans for Auckland and Rural Auckland. Photo / Nick Reed
Property Council - '8 out of 10'
Delighted developers and investors have given the revised Auckland unitary plan "a good eight out of 10" pass mark.
Property Council police and advocacy manager Alex Voutratis, whose group represents the city's big property investors, said that at a quick look the new plan gave developers what they were looking for, but he had not had time yet to read the detailed height limits.
"I'd give it a good eight out of 10 so far," he said.
"Overall we would like to support the changes. We are encouraged by the upzoning in the ability to have the density around town centres and transport corridors like the rail network and the possible light rail network along the isthmus.
"We are also pretty encouraged by the ability of the Rural-Urban Boundary to be changed by a plan change because it means that the boundaries of Auckland, which have been static for more than 20 years which has contributed to the housing unaffordability crisis, are much more flexible.
"This is a really good positive step, and it's up to Auckland Council to not think about today but think about the future and the future needs of Aucklanders. This is a really good starting point to have that conversation."
Harcourts real estate - 'Looks like what Auckland needs'
Harcourts chief executive Chris Kennedy said the proposed plan looked like, at first glance, exactly what Auckland needed to reach its potential.
"Increased migration has enabled our economy to thrive. However, it has also left our biggest city unable to house everyone who wants to live here. We are not going to stop immigration. Realistically, we are not going to be able to stop people buying investment properties.
"We need more houses. Intensification is necessary, and is nothing to be feared as long as it's done well. All the major cities of the world have large chunks of mid-density and high density housing."
In June the average Auckland house sold for $909,733 - 10 per cent up on the previous year. Total new listings, by comparison, dropped by five per cent, Kennedy said.
Loan to value ratio restrictions were among band aids that had not halted prices rises. An expanded urban boundary and more intensification was good news.
"Change can be scary. But we have to accept the fact that Auckland is changing. We can either be prepared for it, or continue to flounder. And while the full consequences have yet to become apparent, this is a bold move that looks just like what Auckland needs.
"We must hope that Auckland Council is bold in its approach to these proposed plans and we can start working towards a more successful city."
Salvation Army - 'Plan gives Auckland a chance'
The Salvation Army has also welcomed the new unitary plan and urged people not to be "Nimbys" saying "yes but not in my backyard".
"Auckland must support the recommendations of the hearings panel on the Auckland City Unitary Plan if the poor housing conditions of low-income Aucklanders are going to be eliminated," said the army's social policy unit director Lieut-Colonel Ian Hutson.
"Inadequate affordable quality housing is the biggest social and economic threat Auckland faces. This plan gives Auckland a chance of eliminating this threat by ensuring the possibility of an adequate supply of quality affordable housing."
He said the tendency on hearing news like this was for people to become self-interested and say, "Yes, but not in my back yard."
"However, the creation of an Auckland that provides secure housing for all requires us to take an approach that considers the total city and all citizens regardless of income," he said.
"This is a plan that in our view gives the chance of providing housing for those struggling in the current housing market, while also keeping in balance the character and environment of Auckland."
Economist Shamubeel Eaqub - 'This is the thing that has been missing'
Economist Shamubeel Eaqub says the latest version of the unitary plan will make housing in Auckland affordable - "in time".
"I loved it," he said after attending a briefing on the plan today.
"It actually plans for ambitious growth for Auckland. This is the thing that has been missing.
"I could quibble about details. We would have liked more density in places like Herne Bay. But the plan overall is bold and ambitious."
He said the plan would make housing more affordable in time.
"It's not going to happen fast. The plan has to become final, then houses have to be built," he said.
"It's not going to solve all the other issues - there are all the tax issues, the lending issues. But this is a central and important part in terms of where the future of Auckland goes in terms of supply."