Having choices about where you live and work is at the heart of Auckland’s draft Unitary Plan.
Many of the young people I meet as I travel around Auckland and at our Unitary Plan engagement events are giving us a clear message; they want choice of apartments or compact housing near public transport links, cafes and bars, where they are close to ‘the action’ and don’t have to worry about maintaining gardens.
But this is not a young versus old, us versus them, rural versus urban, house versus apartment discussion Auckland is having as we work through a programme of nearly 200 public engagement events on the Unitary Plan.
The draft proposals have been designed to make it easier for all Aucklanders, including homeowners, property developers and social housing agencies to meet their housing needs.
That means providing appropriate and appealing options for our young people, older Aucklanders, younger and more mature families, families accommodating retired parents and extended families, the increasing number of two-person households, multiple families living under the same roof – real options for every age, every stage of life, every background.
Rapid growth
What we are seeking to do with the Auckland Plan and the draft Unitary Plan is future-proof Auckland for the additional million Aucklanders we are anticipating.
This population growth is neither a policy of the Council nor something it encourages. It is the high-growth scenario modelled by Statistics New Zealand, allowing for internal and international migration and natural population increase, which will make the biggest contribution to our population growth.
A significant, valued and growing portion of our population is our seniors, and the draft plan looks at how we can provide more housing choices for them.
Again, it is all about options.
Home in home
Proposals included in the plan will make it easier for homeowners to create a second dwelling within their home. In the proposed single house zone, people will be able to create a second, smaller home within an existing home provided the appearance of a single large home is retained. These second homes could be a self-contained home for older relatives, grown children, or as additional rental income, to help with mortgages.
These units are called ‘Mortgage Helpers’ in some countries.
Good quality design is key to the draft Unitary Plan. These second homes will be required to have a minimum area of 30 square metres, direct access to outdoor living space separate or shared with the primary home and comply with daylight controls.
Retirement villages
There is also greater provision for the development of retirement villages in the draft plan, again with design requirements to ensure the quality of new and redeveloped villages, for both residents and neighbours in the surrounding areas. The villages will be integrated with local amenities and services.
The draft plan is not about forcing Aucklanders to live in a particular kind of home. It is about providing a range of options for all Aucklanders, of all ages, backgrounds and financial means, at all stages of their lives.
Unitary Plan public engagement events will be held throughout Auckland until late May. For details, please visit www.shapeauckland.co.nz or call (09) 3010101.
Len Brown is Mayor of Auckland. The above is exclusive to Indian Newslink. A related article appears under Viewlink.
