More changes for housing intensification laws…
Today Housing and RMA Reform Minister Hon. Chris Bishop announced more changes to the legislation requiring housing intensification in Auckland.
“Cabinet has agreed to revise the minimum housing capacity required by Plan Change 120 down from 2 million to 1.4 million homes. Our expectation is that this revised capacity number finally brings consensus on this important issue. Aucklanders deserve certainty on this city-shaping plan change."
Read the full release here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/legislation-gives-more-flex-auckland%E2%80%99s-pc120
It's important to note that this is an announcement - the law has not yet changed. There is a process that needs to be followed to introduce a bill into Parliament and progress it through to become a law.
Interestingly, the Minister has also indicated that they will be addressing "a transitional issue affecting approximately 400 developers and property owners following the withdrawal of an earlier plan change in 2025. Some people had already started projects under the Medium Density Residential Standards and were left in limbo when those rules were withdrawn. This legislation provides certainty. Where approvals were already in place or projects were partway through the building consent process, those projects can continue."
While I welcome the possibility of a sensible compromise on the need for more housing and an artificially high target of 2million, the constant changing of the rules is a nightmare for Auckland. So much public money has been wasted with little progress to show for it and housing affordability is still a major issue. This mess started with poorly considered legislation in 2022 (thanks to Labour and National) and continues to create havoc. Hopefully this change will be the last one and we will have some certainty.
It's too early to know what this means for the 10k submissions made on PC120 as some of the zoning will change, again.
While the Minister has promised "updated provisions and maps will be made publicly available, and Aucklanders will have further opportunities to provide feedback.” there was no mention of a change to the required timeframes so I'm unsure what this will practically mean.