In March 2012, when the council adopted the Auckland Plan it identified a shortage of two-five years of land supply to build more homes. It also identified a cumulative shortage of housing being delivered to meet Auckland's growth.
So, in addition to producing a new Unitary Plan that will increase development capacity across Auckland, the council entered into the Auckland Housing Accord with central government. The goal of the Accord is to improve housing affordability by increasing land supply and fast tracking the consenting of good quality homes.
Within two years the introduction of Special Housing Areas has made a further 1700 hectares of land available for homes. This land is now being re-zoned and serviced for development or is in the process of being developed. To date the Housing Project Office (HPO) has consented nearly 3000 dwellings/sites within the same time frame. As well, there are additional consents lodged with the HPO with a potential yield of around 2700 dwellings/sites with further applications under discussion.
We know, based on international research and findings from the NZ Productivity Commission that land supply and improved development capacity in existing urban areas is one of the biggest influences on housing affordability. This is why the council has been committed to recommending some areas as special housing.
But the council does not build the homes. That is the role of the private development and community housing sectors. They advise the council that once consents are issued, and depending on dwelling types together with whether the land is in an existing urban area or is rural land earmarked for homes that it can take nine months to two years before dwellings are complete. That is why the council expects the pipeline of homes in SHAs to increase in years three and beyond of the Accord.
