Unitary Plan passed: new development rulebook for Auckland

After a marathon four-day meeting, Auckland councillors have passed the contentious Unitary Plan and it comes into force on September 1.

The final session of the council’s governing body meeting dealt with anomalies on specific issues and, while there was scant debate, mayor Len Brown says they will be sorted out over the next three months.

Key decisions made by the council means the new Auckland Unitary Plan will provide for:

More than 400,000 new residential  homes to meet the demands of Auckland’s growth over the next 30 years.

• Expansion of the rural urban boundary to open up more new land for development as the city grows, with flexibility to move the boundary through private plan changes.

• A more compact city with opportunities to build more homes in the existing urban area of two to three stories, and up to six stories close to town centres and transport hubs.

• A focus on high-quality urban design, including the requirement for a resource consent for more than three dwellings on a site that complies with urban design rules and a minimum size for apartments.

• Protection of our historic heritage with about 120 additional historic places scheduled, as well as the retention of protection of 74 volcanic view shafts.

• Managing rural areas so that rural activities are the primary focus. 

At the conclusion, Mr Brown told councillors the government-appointed hearings panel had done a brilliant job. “We all turned up with goodwill and great determination to make a plan.”

“Deputy mayor Penny Hulse lived the plan and chaired some of the angriest meetings where she stood her ground for what she believed in.”

In a smorgasbord of back-slapping, Ms Hulse says she couldn’t have done it without Mr Brown as co-pilot, who brought it in smoothly through turbulence with a cool flight crew.

“Four years ago the Unitary Plan was on post-it notes around a wall. “An awful lot of talking and drama later, staff saw it through with dignity.”

Ms Hulse says it was helped by the participation of local communities. “Who knew planning could be so exciting. It is a sign of a healthy democracy.”

“Everyone can come up with positive and negatives about the plan and it was pretty ropey at times but it is a pretty good plan.”

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