MPs urge protection from intensification
A developer is disappointed Christchurch’s Labour MPs have called for tighter planning rules over concerns about high-density housing developments.
While the MPs, who include Central MP Duncan Webb and Port Hills MP Ruth Dyson, support the ‘‘well-managed’’ building of more housing across the city, the group is worried some poorly planned developments are dominating the landscape and causing a loss of privacy.
They also believe developers are being allowed to push boundaries over compliance, and called for restrictions around variations of resource consents.
The Christchurch City Council has already asked staff to look at what tightly packed housing is doing to inner suburbs such as Richmond, Phillipstown and Addington, where residents have claimed intensive development has caused trouble with parking and led to an increase in crime.
Addressing councillors yesterday, Webb and Dyson said while well-managed intensification was good, too many developments had ‘‘significant shortcomings’’. In a submission – backed by Christchurch East MP Poto Williams and Te Tai Tonga Ma¯ ori electorate member Rino Tirikatene – Webb said poor planning around intensification could damage ‘‘liveability’’ and harm the character of neighbourhoods.
Some new buildings ‘‘dominate’’ communities, obstructing light and the views of neighbouring homes, they said.
Webb cited a development in Wigram built so close to a boundary that a neighbour could not open her window. ‘‘If these issues are to be effectively addressed, district plan changes will be needed,’’ he said.
Some new buildings had insufficient parking, the MPs argued.
They suggested developers are granted permission for resource consents that already push planning laws, only to then seek even more variations.
Williams Corporation is building more affordable, high-density housing projects in Christchurch.
Managing director Matthew Horncastle said he was disappointed to hear the MPs’ comments. ‘‘It just seems ridiculous for them to attack me in a market where you have thousands of people going broke not paying bills, you have the Government that doesn’t honour any of their housing promises.
‘‘When you’re developing in an existing suburb, there’s always going to be people that want it to stay how it is. But we need to accept that Christchurch has a doughnut problem . . . the greatest thing for Christchurch is to get more people living in the city, that’s what council and Government should want,’’ he said.
Horncastle said resource management and consenting were ‘‘so complicated it’s almost impossible not to break rules’’.
Deputy mayor Andrew Turner said councillors had discussed housing intensification ahead of them gaining power to amend the district plan from March 18.