NEWS RELEASE
from the Hutt City Council

7/03/2008

For immediate release

Hutt City joins Urban Design Protocol

Hutt City Council is the latest signatory to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol.

Mayor David Ogden and Environment Minister and Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard today signed the Protocol, a Ministry for the Environment initiative aimed at promoting quality urban design.  Joining them were Councillors Deborah Hislop and Ross Jamieson, who with the mayor have been appointed the council’s urban design champions.

Along with the recent appointment of an Urban Design Manager, signing the Protocol shows the Council is serious about quality urban design and will provide for a more unified approach to urban design in the city, says Mayor Ogden.

“For the most part, the city has developed in an ad hoc basis with little in the way of a shared vision and common sense of direction.

“This has to change and it will change with Council preparing an action plan and putting that plan into action in order to meet the aims of the Protocol.

“The plan includes developing an urban development strategy for the city, applying sound urban design principles into all major capital projects, improved coordination across Council Divisions to achieve better urban design outcomes, and undertaking a CBD review.

“In addition, Council will review the District Plan and explore policy and design guides for heritage, central city, infill housing, industrial development and large format retail.

“These actions will deliver significant social, economic and environmental benefits for the city, including making it an even more attractive place to live and work and better suited to meet the needs of residents,” says Mayor Ogden.

 
ends

© Scoop Media