Inner-ring suburbs flagged for higher density as housing targets shift
Auckland’s housing growth plans are shifting again, with Mayor Wayne Brown signalling more intensification in inner-city suburbs even as the government trims its long-term targets, RNZ reported.
Brown’s comments follow Cabinet’s decision to cut Auckland’s notional housing capacity from 2 million to 1.6 million homes after concerns over heritage and infrastructure.
Housing minister Chris Bishop has described the 1.6 million figure as a midpoint between the capacity already enabled under the Unitary Plan and the original 2 million modelled for Plan Change 120.
Inner-ring suburbs set for more apartments and townhouses
Brown stressed that future intensification will be concentrated in suburbs that already have strong transport links and services, rather than fringe areas. That aligns with government “bottom lines”, which will still enable at least six-storey buildings within roughly 800 metres of rapid transit stations and metropolitan centres. Around key City Rail Link stations, the government wants 10–15 storey allowances.
Brown said there would be no upzoning in neighbourhoods more than 10 kilometres from the city centre that “haven't got everything needed”, while areas close in are expected to carry more of the load.
“Parnell has a railway station, bus service, and is on the upgraded sewage area so it will certainly be involved in intensification,” he said, adding that Mount Eden, Epsom and Ponsonby also fit the bill.
Infrastructure to drive where growth can occur
Brown framed the approach as a pragmatic way to manage growth pressures without turning Auckland into “the world's largest suburb”.
“It's just sensible, it will end up with a city which looks like a city, not the world's largest suburb,” the mayor told Morning Report.
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