An artist's impression of the redeveloped Maungawhau Station in Mt Eden, Auckland which will include new and upgraded platforms for the City Rail Link (CRL) line and existing Western Line. Photo: Grimshaw Architects
The government will force Auckland Council to allow apartments of at least 15 storeys around three key train stations - more than double the six storeys first required.
The City Rail Link (CRL) is nearing completion and will have four new stations, two in the city centre, one near Karangahape Road and one in Mt Eden.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown today said the government will require Auckland to allow even greater housing and development around CRL stations.
"The City Rail Link is 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," Brown said.
"City Rail Link is 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."
It follows a recent announcement that the council and government had reached an agreement to free up more land for housing, particularly around key train stations.
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 announced today will be included in that.
The Bill requires Auckland to allow for greater density around the key stations of Maungawhau (Mt Eden), Kingsland, and Morningside.
Bishop said currently the council has to allow a minimum six storeys around these stations.
"The government has decided that these requirements, while a step forward, don't go far enough."
He said the government will move an amendment to the Bill at the Committee of the Whole House stage, which will:
- Extend the requirement to enable heights and densities reflective of the demand for housing and business to two additional stations: Mt Albert and Baldwin Avenue.
- Require upzoning allowing buildings of at least 15 storeys high around the stations of Maungawhau (Mount Eden), Kingsland, and Morningside.
- Require upzoning allowing buildings of at least 10 storeys high around Mt Albert and Baldwin Avenue stations.
Bishop said it was important to unlock housing capacity around public transport in Auckland.
"Both Mt Albert and Baldwin stations are ripe for development, sitting close to Unitec's campus and Mt Albert's popular shops and cafes. Increasing development capacity in the area will allow for more commuters and more students to live close to the stations, adding vibrance to these suburbs.
The council recently approved a zoning change for the city centre to allow unlimited building heights for a small section of the central business district and double height limits for the rest of the city centre to 20 storeys, or 72.5 metres.
It expects that will allow four times the number of homes and businesses to be built in the central city.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said once the Bill is passed, the council will get on with allowing intensification.
"We've now fixed the city centre and rapid transport corridors, and I look forward to working with the government to make sure we deliver growth in the right places for the rest of the region," he said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
