Here's what the Housing Minister is planning - and how it might work.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has told real estate agents that the government wants to “flood the market” with opportunities for housing development.

It has agreed to a range of changes that would free up land for housing, and, the government hopes, make housing more affordable.

My rough summary of proposal:

  • Most cities will be required to have zoned enough land for 30 years of housing demand all the time
  • These cities won’t be allowed to determine urban/rural boundaries
  • Must intensify, especially around major public transport routes. If they decide not to for character reasons, then equivalent capacity must be opened up in another area
  • cafes, dairies, etc (mixed use) must be allowed in residential areas
  • appartments not allowed to have minimum floor area or requirement for balcony set by council
  • councils already intensifying under a previous agreement (MDRS) will keep this, but if they change it then they have to move to using new rules

Let me know if I’ve got something wrong!

  • TagMeInSkipIGotThis@lemmy.nz
    2·
    4 months ago

    Sprawl has so many extra costs too particularly around transportation. Given council budgets are already severely pressured its hard not to pre-judge that there’ll be at the least a decrease to overall public transport by dilution if not just no services in some areas. So more traffic on local roads which means more emissions and more cost on councils maintaining roads for more cars.

    • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
      1·
      4 months ago

      This might be something for the next government to build on. More housing (in the right places) is definitely something the country needs, and this government has made it clear they won’t invest in infrastructure (other than roads). Changes will take a while to have an effect, with luck maybe we will have a new government with a plan to build better infrastructure.