Hon Dr Nick Smith
Minister of Housing

9 October 2013 Media Statement
6,000 homes in first batch of Special Housing Areas

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Auckland Mayor Len Brown today announced the first batch of Special Housing Areas that will progressively bring to market 6,000 new homes across the city under the Auckland Housing Accord.

“Land supply is the most critical issue we must address to improve housing supply and affordability in Auckland. This first batch of Special Housing Areas will bring 6,000 sections onto the market and is a significant step towards the Auckland Housing Accord’s target of consenting for 39,000 new homes over three years,” Dr Smith says.

The locations for the 10 Special Housing Areas, in addition to the Weymouth community housing project of 282 homes announced last week, are:

• Addison, Papakura, 500 homes, 32 hectares
• Alexander Crescent, East Tāmaki, 148 homes, 8.1 hectares
• Anselmi Ridge, Pukekohe, 64 homes, 6.8 hectares
• Flat Bush Murphys Road, East Tāmaki, 275 homes, 37.8 hectares
• Flat Bush School Road, East Tāmaki, 300 homes, 7 hectares
• Hobsonville Catalina Precinct and Marine Industry precinct, 1,200 homes, 28.2 hectares
• Huapai Triangle, Kumeu, 2,000 homes, 65.1 hectares
• McWhirter Block, West Harbour, 166 homes, 10.1 hectares
• Orakei, Auckland City, 75 homes, 0.8 hectares
• Wesley College, Pukekohe, 1,000 homes, 277.7 hectares

Dr Smith and Mayor Brown made the announcement at the Huapai Triangle Special Housing Area in Kumeu, which has the capacity to accommodate 2,000 new homes.

The Special Housing Areas have been recommended by Auckland Council and provisionally approved by Cabinet. They take legal effect once formally approved by the Governor-General by Order in Council, expected before the end of October. Applications for subdivisions will then be able to be considered by Council under the fast-tracked mechanisms in the legislation which requires approvals within six months for greenfield developments, compared to the current average of three years, and three months for brownfield developments, compared to the current average of one year.

“There will be requirements across the Special Housing Areas for a proportion of the completed homes to be in the more affordable range. This will vary from 100 per cent in some areas like Weymouth to a smaller proportion in others. The details of these requirements will be resolved with the processing of qualifying developments, as provided for under the Auckland Housing Accord,” Dr Smith says.

“Alongside freeing up land supply, we need to constrain the impact of development contributions on section prices, get better value for building materials, make efficiency improvements in building consents, and improve productivity in the construction industry. The Government is also helping Auckland home buyers by expanding the Welcome Home Loans and KiwiSaver First Home Deposit Subsidy schemes.

“This is the start of getting real momentum into Auckland’s residential construction following the enactment of the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas legislation on 16 September and the adoption of the Auckland Accord on 3 October. I commend Auckland Council for the work they’ve put into bringing these first 11 Special Housing Areas forward. My expectation is to have many more approved by Christmas.”

ENDS

Attachments:

1. Auckland Council maps for the first batch of Special Housing Areas
Special_Housing_Areas.pdf

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