Proposals would see Upper Hutt reaching for the sky
Proposed changes to Upper Hutt’s district plan suggest the future of the city’s housing is to build upwards.
Upper Hutt City Council’s draft amendments – Plan Change 50 – will encourage more high and medium-density housing across the city, opening the door for townhouse and apartment developments.
The council’s planning and regulatory services director Richard Harbord said the city’s suburbs stood to be most affected.
‘‘Assuming it lands in a similar format [to the draft], we will eventually see more higher density housing across the urban valley floor. The transformation will take 30 to 50 years.’’
Under the draft, the proportion of suburban residential land would be halved.
Large areas of Trentham, Totara Park, Clouston Park and Brown Owl are earmarked for medium-density housing, allowing developments of up to four storeys.
The draft changes align with the Government’s directive for more housing as outlined in the National Policy Statement on
Urban Development.
The Wellington region has been particularly affected by the national housing crisis, fuelled by a lack of stock. A shortage of land, labour and materials have led to a nearly 30 per cent increase in median house prices in the 12 months to June this year, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s latest figures.
Enabling the construction of a second dwelling on residential zoned properties is also included in the plans.
Harbord said the national policy statement was a one-size-fits-all plan, and time would tell if it was suitable for areas that were not highly urbanised. Current resource consents suggested there was little appetite for higher density housing in the city’s suburbs.
Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said a massive projected population growth called for ambitious plans to make space available for housing. The council is seeking feedback on the draft, which will be open from tomorrow to August 30. Formal consultation will begin in mid-2022.
‘‘We will eventually see more higher density housing across the urban valley floor.’’ Richard Harbord
Upper Hutt City Council planning and regulatory services director