Auckland Housing Accord achieving results the RMA has failed for years

Property Council welcomes the Government and Auckland Council report of the progress made on the Auckland Housing Accord.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Housing Minister Nick Smith have just announced they’re on track to achieve a second year target of building 13,000 more houses in Auckland.

The Auckland Housing Accord is a perfect illustration of the RMA’s failure to get houses built in fast growing areas due to cumbersome regulations and excessive red tape.

The Auckland Housing Accord, which was agreed on in 2013, set a target of 39,000 new sections and dwelling consented over three years – with 9000 in Year One, 13,000 in Year Two and 17,000 in Year Property Council was delighted to see the First Year target of 9,000 exceeded, with 11,060 new sections and dwellings achieved. According to the latest report 14,351 sections and dwellings have been consented – 2,101 ahead of the target for this period.

Chief executive Connal Townsend says the same principles of the Auckland Housing Accord must be adopted into the RMA to fast track building affordable homes.

“The Auckland Unitary Plan process has proved a complex and lengthy process, which will be concluded in 2017. We don’t have that kind of time to wait around with the projected population growth in Auckland and other fast-growing urban areas.

“We are urging the Government to apply the same principles of the Auckland Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas and proceed with RMA changes as soon as possible to get more Kiwis into homes.”

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