9 October 2013

Special Housing Areas to deliver more affordable homes for Auckland

The first 11 Special Housing Areas (SHAs) announced today will help boost the building of affordable homes in Auckland, says Mayor Len Brown.

“This is the first step in a partnership with the Government that will deliver more affordable homes across Auckland in the next three years,” Len Brown said.

“We will be setting affordability criteria of up to 10 per cent minimum for each of the SHAs announced today, but I’m actively encouraging developers to deliver even more than that where possible.

“The Housing Accord can’t and won’t solve Auckland’s housing supply problem - that needs to come from a range of factors, including monetary policy and market conditions.

“But it provides an opportunity to bring forward projects that may have otherwise sat on the backburner - and in particular to secure more affordable homes for Auckland families.

“Today is just the start and I’m very encouraged by early discussions with developers. I want to congratulate Housing Minister Nick Smith for the way he has worked with us to tackle the one of Auckland’s biggest challenges.”

Locations in the first tranche of Special Housing Areas are:

Addison, Papakura, 32 hectares
Alexander Crescent, East Tāmaki, 8.1 hectares
Anselmi Ridge, Pukekohe, 6.8 hectares
Flat Bush Murphys Road, East Tāmaki, 37.8 hectares
Flat Bush School Road, East Tāmaki, 7 hectares
Hobsonville Catalina Precinct and Marine Industry precinct, 28.2 hectares
Huapai Triangle, Kumeu, 65.1 hectares
McWhirter Block, West Harbour, 10.1 hectares
Orakei, 0.8 hectares
Wesley College, Pukekohe, 277.7 hectares
Weymouth community housing project (announced last week).

Notes to Editors

· Following signing of the new Auckland Housing Accord between Auckland Council and central government, areas of land are being identified as Special Housing Areas (SHAs). Within SHAs, landowners will have the option of proposing housing developments that take advantage of a new streamlined consenting process.

· SHAs will be a mixture of existing urban and new urban land within Auckland’s proposed rural urban boundary, which is a 30-year boundary for Auckland’s growth.

· The areas have been selected because there is both demand and readiness to develop housing within the SHAs, as well as infrastructure or capacity to develop infrastructure.

· Auckland Council is responsible for identifying suitable areas for SHAs and recommended the first group of SHAs to the government at the end of September.

· There has been high interest from landowners seeking to be in a SHA. The council will consider all suggestions and expects to identify further SHAs on a quarterly basis.

· SHAs will help deliver the target of 39,000 new homes or new sites to be consented over the three years that the Housing Accord is in place. It is expected that an increase in Auckland’s housing supply will improve home affordability.

· Auckland Council is working with the owners of land identified in the first group of SHAs to ensure that the land can be rapidly developed and that housing can be delivered quickly in the SHAs.

· Land owners and developers inside Special Housing Areas will have development approvals fast-tracked, through a one-stop-shop consenting process and benefit from the new zoning proposals in the Proposed Unitary Plan.

· The streamlined process is made possible by the new Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 that has been designed to support housing accords and increase housing supply in parts of New Zealand with a significant housing demand.

· The Auckland Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas will work in tandem with the new Proposed Unitary Plan, which was notified at the end of September 2013. The accord and special housing areas are interim measures until the Unitary Plan is adopted in 2016.

· The Auckland Housing Accord is an agreement between Auckland Council and government to increase the number of quality homes in Auckland and improve affordability.

· Anyone seeking more information can contact the council’s new Housing Project Office via specialhousingarea@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or call the council on 09 373 6292.
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