Written by Kaaren Joubert | Planning Manager | Cato Bolam Consultants
Following presentations to Auckland Council’s (Council) Planning, Environment and Parks Committee on Council’s draft Future Development Strategy (draft FDS), a couple of requests have been made under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) for a copy of the council’s recordings of the presentations. Council has consulted with parties who presented before releasing the information, to give the opportunity to raise any concerns. Council will now make the final decision about any information that they release or withhold in accordance with the LGOIMA.
While Council decides on the release of the recordings and consider all feedback from Aucklanders and local boards before adopting the final FDS late this year, we thought it good to share our submission points. As professionals, whose expertise spans a wide spectrum of development-related areas, our submission raised concerns about the draft FDS.
One of the primary concerns highlighted in our submission is the perceived imbalance in emphasis between brownfield and greenfield developments. We contended that the draft FDS leans too heavily towards brownfield development, potentially overlooking the benefits of a more balanced approach that includes greenfield projects. We argued that greenfield developments, which allow for a broader range of typologies and neighbourhood characters, could play a pivotal role in alleviating Auckland’s housing backlog.
Addressing Auckland’s housing demand and supply over the next three decades, the submission underscores discrepancies in the estimated demand for new homes. It also points out that the draft fails to fully consider pre-existing dwelling shortages reported in the Auckland Council 2018 Development Strategy. We drew attention to the intricacies surrounding brownfield development, emphasising its complexity due to property ownership fragmentation, existing infrastructure limitations, and neighbourhood character considerations. The submission proposed a more active role for the Council in driving infrastructure upgrades for brownfield developments.
The draft FDS’s proposed shift towards concentrating growth in existing urban areas has our in principle support, but we argued against an excessive emphasis on brownfields. We suggested that quality compact urban form is achievable in both brownfield and greenfield development and emphasize the potential of the latter to deliver housing solutions at scale and pace.
The submission highlights potential unintended consequences of the draft FDS, including exacerbating housing shortages and pricing unaffordability. We called for a more balanced growth strategy that accommodates both brownfield and greenfield developments to better address the housing crisis.
Additionally, our submission raised concerns about the removal and delay of greenfield land (Future Urban Land) based on flooding and natural hazards. We suggested that proper planning via structure plans and plan change processes can mitigate these risks, making greenfield development a viable option. We cautioned that such actions could invoke the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL), potentially curbing future urban and rural lifestyle development.
Regarding funding priorities for infrastructure, we called for a collaborative approach between the government, Council, and developers to ensure holistic solutions that cater to all sectors within society. We stressed the importance of aligning development priorities to avoid mixed signals and uncertainty in the property market.
In terms of funding models, we asserted that infrastructure considerations must be central, particularly for bulk infrastructure and upgrades. We encouraged innovative approaches to infrastructure funding, including targeted rates for stormwater catchment and greenfield development.
The submission shed light on critical concerns surrounding Auckland’s development trajectory and emphasised the need for a balanced and well-considered approach to ensure a sustainable and thriving urban landscape.
Cato Bolam’s planning team have the expertise to provide advice on the draft FDS’s implications for landowners. Please contact Kaaren Joubert, our Planning Manager, via [email protected] in the first instance.
Or get in touch with our team using the contact button below.
Further reading
Link below takes you to our previous article on the Future Development Strategy
Auckland Council Draft Future Development Strategy – Major Changes Proposed
Our other recent planning articles and services can be viewed at below links
Notice of Requirement and Designations
