Udale urges community rethink on housing

Martin Udale is one of several urban intensification proponents urging Aucklanders to embrace the city's new unitary plan.

Mr Udale, a director of merchant bank Cranleigh and the head of its property team, says “the debate needs to focus on how to produce 220,000 new homes, which will need to be delivered through infill and brownfield development".

"It is likely these will largely comprise attached and terraced housing and low-rise apartments throughout much of Auckland’s current urban area.

“Not everyone might embrace this view, but it is housing that is acceptable in many other countries and cities. If we want to house another million people we have to accept this is a good form of property that many people will be happy to live in and embrace.”

The unitary plan envisages that by 2040 there will be demand for 400,000 new dwellings. About 260,000 are earmarked to be built within Auckland’s urban area as defined by the 2010 Metropolitan Urban Limit of 57,780ha. 

Mr Udale is critical of residents who oppose new developments or infrastructure in their neighbourhoods.

“Bad housing consequences have been created through bad legislation and regulation. New approaches are needed to sort the crisis out – the unitary plan must provide some of these.

“If we are to increase our housing stock, a robust debate around housing of all types in all locations needs to move beyond the not-in-my-backyard, green and heritage brigades.

“The political conundrum will be to convince the broader community that intensification can be achieved in a way that enhances the city, improves housing opportunities for many, and addresses valid environmental and heritage concerns.” 

Mr Udale has served on many property or urban design related groups, including: 

• The Auckland mayoral taskforce on urban design.
• Tamaki transformation programme, committee for Auckland.
• Property Council urban issues and infrastructure committee.
• Auckland City urban design panel.
• NZ government taskforce on urban intensification.
• NZ government sustainable urban development unit working group.
• NSW urban taskforce.