Source: Radio New Zealand
Christchurch City Council has confirmed its housing plan provides for future growth, Chris Bishop says. RNZ / Maree Mahony
Christchurch can withdraw from part of a plan change aimed at increasing housing density, because it has met its housing growth target, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop.
Bishop said Christchurch and Auckland councils had argued the Medium Density Residential Standards, which are part of Plan Change 14, were not right for their cities.
In August, Parliament passed a bill allowing the cities to withdraw Plan Change 14, provided the council could prove it had provided for 30 years of sufficient feasible housing capacity, with a 20 percent contingency margin.
Bishop said based on advice from officials, including two peer reviews provided by the council from Urbanomics and Sense Partners, he had decided the Christchurch Council has met this requirement.
“Christchurch City Council has confirmed its housing plan provides for future growth, with modelling showing plan enabled feasible housing capacity for at least 68,200 homes, exceeding the 65,640 homes needed to meet the statutory requirement for 30 years of adjusted demand,” Bishop said.
“Freeing up land for development by removing unnecessary planning barriers is essential to increasing housing supply.
“The evidence is clear that more housing capacity leads to more homes being built, which helps bring down rents and make housing more affordable. The council has delivered on this, and it’s a great result for the city.”
He said ministerial decisions were still pending on two heritage sites, Antonio Hall and Daresbury, and a special character area around Piko Crescent, but these will be considered in the coming months.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
