Councils must change attitude and culture to address housing

Media Release

22 December 2014

Councils must change attitude and culture to address housing supply

District planning rules must consider the economic feasibility of development while addressing land for housing

Property Council has submitted on the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into using land of housing. Chief executive Connal Townsend says requirements in district, regional and unitary plans are being drafted in a silo.

“The lack of regard to how the cumulative impacts of rules and requirements affect development is inadequate, particularly in parts of the country with a housing under-supply. These plans have the ability to send powerful investment signals to the industry.

“If requirements and zoning fail to send a reliable, strong signal out to the market, they simply won’t attract the levels of development needed to address supply issues.”

Council officers and CCOs must understand and consider how their decisions and requirements affect development and its economic feasibility.

“The Government and local authorities need real commitment to achieve this, including legislative change and culture change. Inefficiencies and delays will continue if whole councils and CCOs are not committed to enabling and increasing housing supply.

While councils are well-intentioned with their visions in planning documents, the reality is planning and consenting continue to remain prescriptive in many parts of the country and are increasing costs. This is most obvious in Auckland where there is an acute housing crisis.

The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP) requires developers to provide 6-star Homestar subject to strict urban design controls, and zoning provisions work against the levels of development needed to match Auckland’s growing population. The cumulative impact does not encourage dense development and more affordable houses.

“The PAUP and other plans throughout the country need to encourage intensification through planning rules or else make more greenfields land available.”

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