The government will require Auckland Council to allow apartments of at least 15 storeys around three City Rail Link stations. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton
Auckland Council is meeting to decide whether it will support and consult on a plan to increase intensification and strengthen hazard rules for new buildings.
The draft changes to the Auckland unitary plan aim to replace Plan Change 78, while retaining its focus on housing in town centres.
The council's Policy and Planning Committee is meeting on Thursday to discuss the changes that would allow for more apartments and terrace homes in walking distance of train and bus stations, more restrictive consenting requirements to increase resilience, and an increase in mixed housing suburban zones.
Council will decide if it wants to endorse the plan to go out for consultation with iwi authorities, government, and local boards.
It will have to decide in September whether it will withdraw from Plan Change 78 and proceed with the replacement plan.
In June, the government announced it would require Auckland Council to allow apartments of at least 15 storeys around the Mount Eden, Kingsland, and Morningside Stations, and 10 storeys around the Mount Albert and Baldwin Avenue stations.
The changes will be part of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill which allows Auckland Council to withdraw its intensification plan change, PC78, with a requirement to notify a new plan change by 10 October this year.
In June, Housing Minister Chris Bishop said the new directive from the government was supported by Auckland mayor Wayne Brown and most councillors.
It was important to unlock housing capacity around public transport in Auckland, Bishop said.
Auckland Council recently approved a zoning change for the city centre to allow unlimited building heights for a small section of the central business district and double height limits for the rest of the city centre to 20 storeys, or 72.5 metres.
It expects that will allow four times the number of homes and businesses to be built in the central city.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
