Auckland planning moves to Area Plans

Auckland Council’s rollout of planning documents continues unabated with Area Plans being the next stage of the spatial plan planning process.

The development of Area Plans across Auckland’s 21 local boards is expected to take the next three to four years.

Mangere-Otahuhu and Hibiscus and Bays will be the first to be addressed.

Hibiscus was given priority because of :
- its rural/urban interface, the Silverdale legacy transformation project
- the Hibiscus Coast Gateway (retail development), as identified in the Auckland Plan.

Rodney’s Area Plan will happen in stage four.

Rodney board member Steven Garner said that as one of the areas flagged for the most change in the Auckland Plan, Rodney deserved to have a higher priority.

“I’m not suggesting that we be first, but I think we should be higher than 12th,” he said.

An Area Plan is a non-statutory planning tool, which is developed at a local board area scale. It provides more local level strategic direction, guided by the Auckland Plan, and links closely with the Unitary Plan.

Land use issues such as type and density of development are addressed in Area Plans, as well as elements such as location of community facilities.

They are also likely to address elements such as:
• Town centres of different sizes, roles and functions, and their future form and extent
• Key transport facilities, routes and services
• Local heritage, landscape, natural and ecological sites of interest and importance

The plans are aimed at integrating economic, environmental, social and cultural outcomes at a local level, and will be presented in both text and map form.

Community engagement, hosted by local boards, will be a key part of the process.

Published 1 December 2011