Feedback on Govt’s housing growth proposal approved

Christchurch City Council has approved feedback on the first part of the Government’s Going for Housing Growth package of proposals.

The Government is seeking feedback on “pillar 1” of its three-pillar proposal to help inform the policy as part of its broader reform of the resource management system.

Pillar 1 focuses on freeing up land for urban development, including removing unnecessary planning barriers, to help address the underlying causes of New Zealand’s housing supply shortage.

A report tabled at today’s Council meeting generally acknowledged that parts of the Government’s first proposal would provide appropriate ways for managing housing growth in Christchurch and deliver the well-functioning urban environments envisioned by the Council. 

The Council’s submission is supportive of specific parts of the proposal, including changes to spatial planning requirements, enabling development around transport corridors, and bringing together land use planning and infrastructure planning and investment.

However, it highlights the need for growth to be managed strategically to limit the risk of “uncosted and ad-hoc growth” and raises concerns with extra costs that could come from development happening in an unplanned way.

The submission underlines the importance of minimising any further financial burden being placed on councils, particularly when it comes to infrastructure planning and investment. 

It also notes the challenge of submitting on the Going for Housing Growth proposal amid a “piecemeal approach” to national changes related to housing and infrastructure.