September 21, 2021

NZ Urban Development news from the media | 21 September 2021 | Auckland Council to launch consultation on new Contributions Policy

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Hi *|FNAME|*, Please find below Urban Development News from the media from the week of 21 September 2021.

Provided by Rockhopper Development Management & Advisory, a member of:

Auckland Council to launch consultation on new Contributions Policy

The Finance and Performance Committee has unanimously approved a new draft Contributions Policy for consultation and will be seeking feedback from Aucklanders from 20 September 2021.

The draft Contributions Policy 2021 has been updated to reflect investments made in The Recovery Budget (our 10-year Budget 2021-2031), capital expenditure and legislative change since 2018, and revised development forecasts.

Finance and Performance Committee Chair Cr Desley Simpson says, “There is exponential housing growth in Auckland and we’ve seen the devastating impacts of failing to plan ahead for infrastructure in other regions across the country.

https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/dc-policy

Woolworths housing and supermarket development approved by Environment Court

Plans for 270 new houses and apartments, a supermarket, shops, eateries, a tavern, a cinema, a gym and an indoor pool have been given the go ahead for Christchurch's fastest-growing suburb.

The Environment Court has approved a proposal from supermarket company Woolworths to build the subdivision on 21 hectares on Halswell Rd, on the north side of Halswell.

The southwestern suburb already has more home building under way than any other part of Christchurch.

Australia-based Woolworths, owner of the Countdown brand in New Zealand, bought the land for $27 million from three owners about four years ago. The site is mostly farmland and sits opposite the Aidanfield subdivision.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/126363010/woolworths-housing-and-supermarket-development-approved-by-environment-court

Government's infrastructure fund for housing accelerates

The IAF, administered by Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, closed the initial expressions of interest period on 20 August, after giving applicants a brief extension due to Covid-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions.

Kāinga Ora General Manager Commercial Group, Caroline McDowall says the fund has been very popular.

“We have received over 200 proposals for the IAF, with a great regional spread,” she says.

“This excellent response highlights how badly the funding is needed to jump-start developments and increase the pace of housing supply.”

The IAF was announced as part of the Government’s $3.8bn Housing Acceleration Fund in March 2021. The fund of at least $1bn is designed to allocate funding to infrastructure projects that unlock housing development in the short to medium term, enabling a meaningful contribution to housing outcomes in areas of need.

https://kaingaora.govt.nz/news/governments-infrastructure-fund-for-housing-accelerates/