The housing bill aims to build more three-storey houses in Auckland and other big cities. Photo / File
The housing bill aims to build more three-storey houses in Auckland and other big cities. Photo / File
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has welcomed changes made to Labour and National's controversial housing bill, but wants to see a greater focus on design standards.
The two parties came together to pass a bill that would make it easier to build three buildings of three storeys on most sections inour biggest cities.
The parties' deal to water down the bill means it will now deliver 37,477 new homes in Auckland - 1690 fewer than had been originally hoped for and a loss of 4 per cent.
They also plan to reduce the maximum height of buildings at the section boundary, allowed under the bill, which is being rushed through Parliament before Christmas.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff wants design standards added to the housing bill. Photo / File
Initially, the bill allowed height to boundary ratios of 6m at the side and rear boundaries, with a 60 degrees recessionary plane. It is now 4m.
"I am pleased the parties have made some changes, but we would like them to go further by putting a greater focus on design standards to ensure that the quality of homes will deliver for the people who will ultimately live in them.
"We want to ensure that as new communities are developed in our city, people can enjoy living in good quality homes with sufficient sunlight, space and access to outdoor green space," Goff said.
Last month, Goff said the plans are worse than what cowboy developers are already putting up in places like Takanini and Manurewa, and leave the council with less control.
"We have to create housing of acceptably quality and design and not create slums of the future," he said.
Today, the mayor reiterated the concerns he has raised with Labour and National over infrastructure.
The new housing bill has been watered down - but only slightly. Photo / George Heard
"The problem is not the availability of zoned land but rather a shortfall in the infrastructure needed to enable the development of that zoned land.
"We also want a greater focus on ensuring intensified housing is built in areas well served by infrastructure, such as proximity to transport routes, water infrastructure and community facilities," said Goff.
He said the Auckland Unitary Plan enables up to 900,000 new homes, saying it is clear a lack of zoned sites for housing is not the problem.
The bill was ripped apart by a barrage of criticism in select committee from councils and residential associations worried they would lose control of zoning and design standards (although there were some voices of support).
Two significant changes have been made since then.
Initially, the bill allowed height to boundary ratios of 6m at the side and rear boundaries, with a 60 degrees recessionary plane (this is the angle at which the roof is allowed to rise).
But concerns over sunlight loss saw the environment select committee recommend this be reduced to 5 metres as of last Thursday.
Now, an amendment from the Government, which National has indicated it is likely to support, has watered that down to 4m with the same recessionary plane.
This change will be put in a supplementary order paper (SOP) to amend the bill, which is up for its second reading today.
Modelling released by the Government said that if no law change were made, Auckland would see 40,609 homes added in the next five to eight years.
The townhouse bill in its original form would have nearly doubled this to 79,776 dwellings - these changes will reduce that to 78,086 dwellings (37,477 more compared with doing nothing).
The modelling shows an alternative proposal, which would have reduced the boundary ratio to 3m with a recessionary plane of 45 degrees would have cut the number of houses delivered by the bill to just 67,652 - a drop of 12,124, or 31 per cent.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that height to boundary controversy was "an issue that we always intended to work through at select committee".
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the Unitary Plan provides for 900,000 homes. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
"My understanding from those involved is that agreement based on submissions has been reached, but it is not a significant change at all," Ardern said.
Ardern said she was happy with the compromise, saying "if it's not having a significant impact on the amount of additional housing you create why not find a solution that meets the needs of all parties?"
National's housing spokeswoman Nicola Willis said the changes were appropriate.
"The changes that are being made address some of the legitimate concerns that were made at the select committee and we have made changes that are pragmatic - things like reducing the height of the buildings in relation to boundaries, introducing landscaping requirements, ensuring councils have discretion to exclude some areas from densification," Willis said.
