New plan for housing intensification
Last week the Governing Body of Auckland Council (Mayor and Councillors) voted to approve the replacement plan for intensification.
The old version (Plan Change 78) was required by central government legislation. By law, it could not reduce building in high-risk hazard areas or opt out of blanket rules allowing three-storey homes across Auckland – including areas with limited transport connections.
It's replacement, Plan Change 120, will:
introduce stronger planning rules in high-risk flood and natural hazard areas, reducing future risk to people and property.
remove blanket three-storey housing rules (known as the Medium Density Residential Standards) across almost every residential area across Auckland.
focus new homes around the city centre, town centres, rapid transit stops such as train stations, Northern/Eastern Busways, and frequent bus routes..
meet government directions for increased building heights around five key Western Line stations: 15 storeys at Maungawhau, Kingsland and Morningside; and 10 storeys at Baldwin Avenue and Mt Albert stations.
give infrastructure providers a clearer picture of where growth is expected, compared to Plan Change 78.
While not everything in Plan Change 120 is good, it's fixing much of the problems with Plan Change 78. The biggest challenge is the legally mandated requirement to one for 2million homes (up from the 900k in the original Auckland Unitary Plan). I'm pleased to see that the Governing Body included this in their resolution:
"note Auckland Council’s firm position that the outcomes for Aucklanders are more important than meeting a theoretical housing capacity target and that the Independent Hearing Panel and Auckland Council (as final decision maker) must be able to focus on achieving the best outcomes for Auckland through the final form of plan-enabled housing capacity."
By 10 October 2025 council will write to the Minister for the Environment seeking approval to notify the new replacement plan change.
Public notification is expected by the end of October (subject to the minister’s agreement) with public submissions are expected to open from 3 November to 19 December 2025 (subject to the minister’s agreement). Following submissions, public hearings will be held by an Independent Hearings Panel.
Read more here: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2025/09/new-plan-approved-for-auckland-s-future/