High Growth and Compact Cities: Balancing Greenfield, Intensification and Community Wellbeing Michael Tucker Tauranga City Council Doug Spittle Tauranga City Council Celia Davison Auckland City Council
Are we here to plan for housing supply or build sustainable cities?
Sustainable management, four wellbeings, environmental bottom-lines Historically we ve tended to plan for a range of outcomes sustainable management and to ensure the wellbeing of residents and future residents The four well-beings are built into the RMA, LGA and LTMA Not be overly influenced by a single driver such as housing In urban areas, these concepts are neatly reflected by the Compact City term
What is a compact city? And why should I want one?
High quality built environment
Agglomeration Benefits
Stronger Communities
Accessible for all modes
High quality natural environment
Now who wouldn t want that?
Tauranga
Typical greenfield developments
Some density in places
Increasing Congestion
A growing city centre
And an Emerging Tertiary Campus
Auckland
Urban Auckland Rural Auckland Auckland Wellington City Centre 19
International City
Tertiary Sector
Amenity & Vibrancy
Iconic Built Spaces
Natural Attractions
Auckland -The Beginning October 2010 Auckland Council formed 1 regional council and 7 district councils amalgamated into one March 2012 - Auckland Plan adopted A 30 year-plan to shape the world s most liveable city Clear direction to create a higher quality and more compact Auckland
Auckland - City Vision Key Principles Quality compact Auckland Generational change and a transition to a quality compact form Most growth (jobs and homes) inside existing urban areas A rural-urban boundary - staged release of greenfield land with timely infrastructure Decade by decade housing supply that keeps up with population growth
Auckland - Delivery of scale and change Potential to unlock land for development in Auckland on a large scale Permitted building scale increased in intensive zones Town Centres and Local Centres Mixed Use zone (plus increased extent) Terraced Housing and Apartment zone Enables small scale developers in residential zones no density
Travel time/cost
Infrastructure for all modes
Restrictive Parking Policies
Housing Affordability
Rural Urban Boundary
So how do these examples relate to the big issues facing New Zealand right now?
Housing supply and affordability
We might have to get a bit ugly - Source: 3 News, May 2014
We argue that its not just about building more houses. We have wider responsibilities : Accessibility to jobs, facilities, amenities, etc Good urban amenity Healthy communities A clean and green environment Strong local economy And much more
In the overwhelming rush to build more houses we can easily lose sight of wider objectives.. But Government direction is clear that we need to achieve these too: National Policy Statement on urban development capacity social and economic exchange vs. four wellbeings Better Urban Planning RMA Part II LGA
Can we achieve both increase housing supply and deliver optimally on the four wellbeings?
A Way Forward We believe that we have the mandate to deliver sustainable communities that meet residents needs But we need a more sophisticated approach to planning that engages with our communities This to include housing supply but is not limited to housing supply But critically we need to be more savvy about how we record, measure and advance the outcomes sought by our communities
A three-pronged approach: Leadership The Planning Response Measuring the Right Outcomes
Measuring the Right Outcomes Metrics across the four wellbeings which are few in number and closely linked. Macro-economic impacts Affordable living vs. affordable housing f National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity, which are few in number and closely linked.
The Planning Response Community and sector engagement establish a vision and get buy-in through a Flexibility vs prescription Integrating public investment to drive urban form outcomes that support community wellbeing Hierarchy of plans ranging from local area based plans to long term spatial, strategic and investment plans
Leadership Local Authorities Setting vision for long term growth of our cities and regions Central Government Macro strategy (e.g. economic, social, environmental), fiscal/legislative tools Developers Smart partnerships Communities Community led planning
Can we achieve housing supply and optimise four wellbeings? Leadership? If so is the three pronged approach the way forward? Leadership The Planning Response The Planning Response Measuring the Right Outcomes Measuring the Right Outcomes