Govt presses for taller buildings around some Auckland train stations
The Government is allowing greater housing and development around some Auckland train stations, preparing for an increase in demand with the new City Rail Link.
Previously, the Government said Auckland Council must enable a minimum of no less than six storeys in a walkable distance around the Maungawhau (Mount Eden), Kingsland, and Morningside stations.
The change was intended to reflect "higher demand for housing and business' in these areas.
Now, it said the changes, outlined in the Resource Management (Consenting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, "didn't go far enough" – and would require upzoning allowing buildings of at least 15 storeys high around those stations.
It also added the Mt Albert and Baldwin Avenue stations to the list, requiring upzoning allowing buildings in these areas of at least 10 storeys high.
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Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown said the Mt Albert and Baldwin stations were "ripe for development", sited close to the Unitec campus and Mt Albert's popular shops and cafes.
'The Government is determined to fix our housing crisis and a key step toward that is unlocking housing capacity in Auckland. The best place to start is by building housing around high quality public transport.'
Brown said the CRL was a 'game-changing investment in the future of Auckland'.
'It will unlock significant economic opportunity, but only if we have a planning system to allow businesses and residents to take advantage of it.'
Bishop said the City Rail Link was a more than $5 billion investment in Auckland's continued growth.
'Enabling greater housing intensification along this corridor will help us maximise the benefits of this investment and provide more homes in a city geared up for growth.'
'The Resource Management (Consenting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill allows Auckland Council to withdraw its intensification plan change, PC78, with a requirement to notify a new plan change by 10 October this year. The upzoning we're announcing today will be incorporated into that new plan change.'
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