A look into Auckland’s housing future

Aucklanders are being urged to have their say on a plan to focus new housing in “well-connected locations” over the coming decades.

Richard Hills, chair of Auckland Council’s policy, planning and development committee, says the proposed changes are about providing more housing capacity and choice, particularly around major transport hubs and large town centres.

Modelling indicates roughly 140,000 homes could be built across Auckland over the next 10 years, with the proposed changes potentially increasing the share built within 10km of the city centre from around 17% to around 30%.

This approach – a key aspect of the council’s proposed Plan Change 120 (PC120) – will also play a crucial role in getting the best use out of the billions of dollars invested in city infrastructure in recent years, he believes.

PC120 updates the Auckland Unitary Plan to align with central government directives, which reduced the city’s required housing capacity from around 2 million homes to at least 1.4 million. The proposed changes reshape how much capacity the city should have and where.

The amended plan was approved in July and is now open for public submissions. A final council decision is expected next year.

Hills says the plan focuses intensification around transit hubs and large town centres, enabling more housing in locations close to infrastructure and services.

This is in line with research undertaken by the council’s chief economist unit, which looked at where Aucklanders most want to live. The results showed demand for housing is strongest in areas with good access to jobs, transport, schools, shops and other services.

“We are not saying people have to live in these areas, but at the same time we can’t keep on spreading out forever – that is not necessarily the smartest way,” Hills says.

“We have to look to the future. People want to enjoy city living and not have to jump into a car to go to the hairdresser or spend two hours in traffic going to and from work.

“And as our research shows, many people say they wish they had more options to live nearer their jobs and transport hubs.

“So it [PC120] is about helping us enable more housing choices in the right places while supporting future growth where it makes the most sense,” Hills says.

“It also strengthens planning rules to protect people and property from natural hazards by limiting development in flood-prone, landslide-prone and coastal erosion areas across Auckland.”

Under the amended plan, intensification will be focused around train and rapid busway stations, the city centre, large town centres and frequent bus routes, while previously proposed increases in density around smaller local centres will be reduced.

Some of this intensification is mandatory under the Government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development, which requires Auckland to enable buildings of at least six storeys within walking distance of the city centre, large town centres such as Newmarket or Manukau, and rapid transit stops.

In some of these areas within 10km of the city centre, PC120 proposes taller buildings of 10 or 15 storeys.

Hills says the proposed zoning changes affect only about 15% of Auckland’s urban area, with the other 85% remaining unchanged from the rules adopted in 2016’s Unitary Plan.

Aucklanders have already invested billions of dollars in transport, water and other infrastructure so, Hills says, it makes sense to make best use of these investments through providing more housing choice and strengthening protection from natural hazards.

Two major infrastructure projects in particular – the City Rail Link and the Central Interceptor – will increase Auckland’s ability to support future housing in well-connected locations.

The $1.6 billion Central Interceptor is New Zealand’s largest wastewater infrastructure project. A massive 16.2km underground tunnel, it holds between 200,000 and 226,000 cubic metres of wastewater, carrying it from urban areas to the Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant.

It is expected to reduce wet-weather overflows into the city’s waterways by around 80% and provide a more resilient wastewater network for the next 100 years.

The City Rail Link (CRL) is a $5.5 billion investment and will be fully operational on September 13. It will increase service frequency and passenger capacity while reducing travel times across much of Auckland’s rail network.

Hills says it will improve access to the city centre, which is not only Auckland’s largest employment hub with around 157,000 jobs, but also plays a major role in the national economy – in 2024 contributing around $30 billion, or around 8% of New Zealand’s overall GDP.

The council’s chief economist Gary Blick says Auckland is an economic engine that is not firing on all cylinders, but local policies that better use urban land can help improve productivity and, in turn, support higher wages and living standards.

“The way cities grow and function has a big influence on productivity,” Blick says.

“Cities tend to work better when they allow people to live closer to jobs, public transport and the services they need. This shortens commutes, improves access to jobs and helps businesses to connect with both workers and customers.”

Meanwhile, Hills is encouraging Aucklanders to have their say on the proposed changes to PC120.

These will then be considered by an independent hearings panel, an Auckland Council and government-appointed expert group of nine members with backgrounds in planning, natural hazards, law, transport, economics, urban design, cultural values and tikanga Māori.

The panel will make recommendations to the council before a final decision is made next year.

Submissions on Auckland’s Future Housing Plan – Plan Change 120 are now open until 24 September. To learn more and have your say go to: akhaveyoursay.nz