One year into Auckland’s refreshed 30-year growth plan, findings released today show building consent numbers for higher density dwellings are outpacing standalone houses, with record growth also firmly concentrated in existing urban areas.
In the first progress report of the Auckland Plan 2050 Development Strategy, data shows consents for higher density housing, which includes apartments and townhouses, have increased 21 per cent from the previous year, compared with houses, which have only seen a 12 per cent increase.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomed the continuing increase in dwelling consents issued, now more than 14,000 for the year ended 30 June.
“This is a record for Auckland, with more dwellings consented in the first six months of this year than in the 24 months of 2009 and 2010 when the Super City was being formed.
“Equally as important as growth itself, is enabling the right kind of growth and in the right places.
“With over 83 per cent of all dwellings consented being within existing urban areas, and continuing growth in higher density housing, we are well on the path to becoming a more quality compact city, which has a positive impact on traffic congestion and carbon emissions, as more people use public transport and active transport modes.”
Penny Pirrit, Director of Urban Growth and Housing, says:
“Although standalone houses remain the predominant dwelling type region-wide, the faster rate of increase for apartment and townhouse-style consents indicates a strong shift toward more intensive living.
“Auckland is growing up, instead of just out. Early indications show Aucklanders’ desire for a quality compact future city is on track.”
The Development Strategy sets out how Auckland will grow and change over the next 30 years. Auckland’s quality compact approach encourages future development in existing and new urban areas, limiting its expansion into the rural hinterland.
Findings in the first year show 83 per cent of all dwellings consented are inside existing urban areas. Of these consents, the majority (54 per cent) are now for higher density housing, which includes apartments, townhouses, flats, and units.
The Auckland Unitary Plan is key to supporting this strategy, as it removed density controls in some residential zones, and together with council’s Infrastructure Strategy, is enabling quality compact growth with the necessary services and transport links to support growing communities.
Since the Unitary Plan became operative in late-2016, the number of building consents for higher density housing has grown by 52 per cent, in comparison, building consents for standalone houses increased just 17 per cent over the same period.
Mayor Goff added: “The Unitary Plan has unlocked significant housing development capacity, helping moderate house price growth to the point that housing affordability is now the best it’s been in over five years.”
The amount of business floor space consented has also seen a 30 per cent increase from the previous year.
Pirrit added: “More land being used for business means more job opportunities for Aucklanders and more choices for where they can live and work in the future.”
The findings of the Development Strategy progress report have today been made available online in an interactive dashboard format for the first time. The dashboards offer a spatial representation of Auckland’s growth and progress towards its development goals.
Users can select different geographic locations to see how many dwellings have been consented, which housing types, and data by individual local boards.
Report highlights:
- 14,032 new dwellings were consented in the year ended 30 June 2019. A 13 per cent increase from the previous year.
- 83 per cent of all dwelling consents in the Auckland region were within its existing urban areas; 10 per cent in its future urban areas; 7 per cent were in rural zones.
- 76 per cent of all dwelling consents in Auckland’s Nodes - the city centre, Manukau, Westgate and Albany – were higher density dwellings, which include apartments, townhouses, flats, and units.
- 56 per cent of all new dwelling consents in Nodes were apartments.
- In Waitematā, Albert-Eden and Maungakiekie-Tāmaki local boards, 70 per cent of dwelling consents were for were higher density dwellings.
- 10,080 dwellings were issued Code Compliance Certificates (CCC), which means the dwelling is finished and ready to be lived in.
- 91 per cent of all dwellings issued with a CCC were in the existing or future urban areas.
Growing business
- Almost 900,000 square metres of new business floor space was consented in 2018-2019, compared with 692,612 the previous year.
- 54 per cent more business floor space was consented in 2018/2019 compared with 2012/2013.