Hamilton City Council approved a Special Housing Areas policy on Thursday, but failed to include measures that would specifically address home affordability and social housing needs.
The policy does allow the council to prescribe that any SHA development must - on a case by case basis - contain a percentage of affordable dwellings. Although there is no criteria for what is "affordable".
Special Housing Areas may be created on land put forward for development that may not be zoned residential. The policy was created to enhance housing affordability by facilitating an increase in land and housing supply.
During the council meeting on Thursday, Cr Mark Bunting attempted to make a late amendment to the policy stating the council "approves the inclusion of a clause to the policy to target a minimum of 20 per cent of total SHA stock over the life of the accord (3 years) be set aside for affordable and social housing initiatives."
The amendment was seconded by Cr Siggi Henry, but came up against stiff opposition.
"What I'm trying to do is say, yup, keep 80 per cent for developers to do what they will, but don't expect them to deal with affordability," Cr Bunting said.