Council moves forward with Housing Accord

Media release: 26 February 2015

Nelson City Council today agreed to commence negotiations to enter into a Housing Accord with the Minister of Building and Housing Hon Dr Nick Smith.

The Nelson Tasman region was identified by Government in January as a priority area in Schedule 1 of the Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 (HASHA), which aims to improve housing affordability by helping to increase land and housing supply in specific regions.

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says: “Encouraging more affordable housing choice is a priority for this Council. We want to explore the opportunity that a Housing Accord can provide and I look forward to advancing discussions with the Minister, the wider community, developers and others on an integrated planning approach for the city that identifies special housing areas.

“This decision marks the start of the process and collaboration will be key to our success in addressing this very real issue. We want to provide affordable choice for first home buyers, young families, and older people looking to downsize. This is an opportunity to help boost economic growth for the region by increasing the supply of affordable housing.”

Once special housing areas have been identified, Council can access powers under the Act to accelerate the resource consent process and plan change decisions for qualifying developments in these areas.

“I recognise the value in taking a collaborative approach to addressing housing affordability and look forward to developing the Accord.”

A Housing Accord is a fixed-term agreement that sets out how a territorial authority and the government will work together to improve housing supply. It also sets targets for development in the short to medium-term.

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