Urban Growth, Liveability and Quality Urban Design: Questions about the efficacy of urban planning systems in Auckland, New Zealand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2018.3667Keywords:
Urban design, Intensification, Urban consolidation, urban planning tools and methods, LiveabilityAbstract
Preventing sprawl and concentrating future urban growth at transit centres, typifies many urban planning strategies in a number of Australian, New Zealand and North America cities. Newer iterations of these strategies also argue that compact development delivers public benefits by enhancing urban ‘liveability’ through good urban design outcomes. Where neoliberal economic conditions prevail, achieving these aims is largely dependent on market-driven development actions requiring the appropriate urban planning responses to ensure these outcomes. However, there are growing concerns that urban planning approaches currently used are not effectively delivering the quality urban design outcomes expected and enhancing residents’ liveability. This paper reports on an evaluation of three medium density housing developments located in areas designated for intensification in Auckland, New Zealand. Examined is the extent to which the development outcomes are aligned with the statutory urban planning requirements for quality urban design. The results indicated contradictions and points to limitations of the statutory planning system to positively influence quality outcomes, leading to enhanced residents’ experiences.
Downloads
References
Adams, D. and Tiesdell, S. (2013) Shaping Places: Urban Planning, Design and Development. London: Routledge. Availible at: http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/42615/
Auckland City Council (1999) Auckland City Council District Plan: Isthmus Plan section. Auckland: Auckland City Council. Availibe at: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/district-and-regional-plans/district-plans/isthmus-district-plan/Pages/default.aspx
Auckland Council. (2012) The Auckland Spatial Plan. http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/plansstrategies/theaucklandplan/Pages/theaucklandplan.aspx , accessed 14 August 2014.
Auckland Council. (2016) The Unitary Plan., http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/plansstrategies/unitaryplan/Pages/unitaryplanoperative.aspx , accessed 14 August 2017.
Auckland Council (2013) Special Housing Areas: The Criteria.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ratesbuildingproperty/housingsupply/Documents/shacriteria.pdf , accessed 21 August 2014.
Auckland Regional Council (1999), Auckland Regional Growth Forum: a vision for managing growth in the Auckland Region. Auckland: Auckland Regional Council. Available at: http://www.safekids.nz/Information-research/Information-Search-Results/Type/View/ID/7759
Auckland Regional Council. (2008) Proposed Plan Change 6 to the Auckland Regional Policy Statement. Auckland: Auckland Regional Council. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/unitary-plan/auckland-unitary-plan-modifications/proposed-plan-changes/docspc7/section-32-evaluation.pdf
Auckland Unitary Plan, Independent Hearings Panel. (2014), About us. http://www.aupihp.govt.nz , accessed 5 June 2014.
Arenibafo, F. (2016). The Transformation of Aesthetics in Architecture from Traditional to Modern Architecture: A case study of the Yoruba (southwestern) region of Nigeria. Contemporary Urban Affairs (JCUA), 1(1), 35-44. https://doi.org/10.25034/1761.1(1)35-44
Barnett, J. (2003) Redesigning cities: principles, practices and implementation. Chicago: Planners Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235357552_Redesigning_Cities_Principles_Practice_Implementation
Beattie, L. and Haarhoff, E. Delivering quality urban consolidation on the urban fringe: A case study of University Hill, Melbourne, Australia. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal 7(4): 329-342. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277612232_Delivering_quality_urban_consolidation_on_the_urban_fringe_A_case_study_of_University_Hill_Melbourne_Australia
Beattie, L. (2013) Evaluating District Plan in Auckland, New Zealand: Do they deliver their intended outcomes. PhD thesis, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Available at: http://www.creative.auckland.ac.nz/people/l-beattie
Beattie, L. (2011) The Auckland Spatial Plan: the challenge of implementation. Paper presented at the 4th World Planning School Congress; Perth, Australia. https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/16789
Beattie, L. and Haarhoff, E. (2011) Governance: how to achieve urban growth management in practice: a practitioner perspective. Paper presented at the International New Urbanism and Smart Growth Conference; Perth, Australia. https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/16669
Bunker, R., Gleeson, B., Holloway, D. and Randolph, B. (2002) The local Impacts of Urban Consolidation in Sydney. Urban Policy and Research, 20(2): 143-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/08111140220144461
Buxton, M. and Tieman, G. (2005) Patterns of Urban Consolidation in Melbourne: Planning Policy and the Growth of Medium Density Housing. Urban Policy and Research, 23:2: 137-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/08111470500135086
CABE (2008), Creating successful masterplans, London: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.cabe.org.uk/files/creating-successful-masterplans.pdf , accessed 14 August 2014.
Campoli, J. Made for Walking: Density and Neighborhood Form. Cambridge, MA: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
CHRANZ .(2011). Improving the Design, Quality and Affordability of Residential Intensification in New Zealand. Auckland: Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New Zealand. https://www.smartgrowthbop.org.nz/media/1411/g-improving-the-design-quality-affordability-residential-intensification.pdf
Department of Infrastructure and Planning (2009) South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031. http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/resources/plan/seq/regional-plan-2009/seq-regional-plan-2009.pdf , accessed 14 August 2014.
Department of Planning and Community Development (2010) Activity Centres Toolkit: Making it Happen. http://www.google.co.nz/#q=victoria+state+activity+centre+toolk accessed 14 August 2-14.
Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (2002) Melbourne 2030: Planning for Sustainable Growth. http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/plansandpolicies/planningformelbourne/planninghistory/melbourne2030 , accessed 14 August 2014.
Dixon, J. and Dupuis, A. (2003) Urban Intensification in Auckland, New Zealand: a challenge for new urbanism. Housing Studies 18(3): 353-369. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673030304239
Ericksen, N., Berke, P., Crawford, J. and Dixon, J. (2003) Planning for Sustainability: New Zealand under the RMA. Waikato: International Global Change Institute. https://www.amazon.com/Planning-Sustainability-New-Zealand-Under/dp/0473098148
Haarhoff, E., Beattie, L., Dixon, J., Dupuis, A., Lysnar, P. and Murphy, L. (2012) Future Intensive: Insights for Auckland’s Housing. Auckland: The University of Auckland/Transforming Cities. https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/22332
Haarhoff, E., Beattie, L., & Dupuis, A. (2016). “Does higher density housing enhance liveability? Case studies of housing intensification in Auckland”. Cogent Social Sciences, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2016.1243289
Haarhoff, E. and Beattie, L. (2011). Questions about smart growth: a critical appraisal of urban growth strategies in three North American cities. Paper presented at the International New Urbanism and Smart Growth Conference; Perth, Australia. https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/16788
Ingram, G., Carbonnell, A., Hong, Y-H and Flint, A. (2009) Smart Growth Policies: an Evlauation of Programs and Outcomes. Cambridge, MA: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Jain, A. and Courvisanon, J. (2008). Urban Growth on the periphery: ad hoc policy visions and research neglect. Paper presented at the 32nd ANZRSAI Conference; Adelaide, Australia. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2138610
Laurian, L., Crawford, J., Mason, G., Erickson, N., Kouwenhoven, P., Day, M. and Beattie, L, (2010) Evaluating the Outcomes of Plans. Environment and Planning B 37(4): 740-757. https://www.waikato.ac.nz/php/research.php?mode=show&author=417
Laurian, L., Day, M., Backhurst, M., Berke, P., Ericksen, N., Crawford, J., Dixon, J. and Chapman, S. (2004) What Drives Plan Implementation? Plans, Planning Agencies and Developers. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 47(4): 555-577. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964056042000243230
Lunt, N. and Davidson, C. (2003). Introduction: evaluate matters. In Lunt, N., Davidson, C. and Mc Kegg, K (eds) Evaluating Policy and Practice: A New Zealand Reader. Auckland: Pearson Education. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.360.8700&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Metro Portland .(1994). The Nature of 2040: The region’s 50-year plan for managing growth, http://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/natureof2040.pdf , accessed 14 August 2014.
Metro Vancouver. (2010). Metro Vancouver 2040: Shaping Our Future, http://www.metrovancouver.org/planning/development/strategy/RGSDocs/RGSAdoptedbyGVRDBoardJuly292011.pdf , accessed 14 August 2014.
McDougall, A. and Maharaj, V. (2012). Closing the Gaps on the urban fringe of Australia capital cities: an investment worth making. Australian Planner 48(3): 131-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/07293682.2011.581244
Ministry for the Environment. (2012) Medium density housing: case study assessment methodology. Wellington: New Zealand Government.
Nikoofam, M., & Mobaraki, A. (2016). In Pursuit of Sustainable Strategic Long-term Planning Throughout Meta-postmodernism as New Perspective of Stylistic Design. Contemporary Urban Affairs (JCUA), 1(1), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.25034/1761.1(1)45-55
Newman, P. and Kenworthy, J, (1989) Cities and Automobile Dependence. Aldershot: Gower. https://www.amazon.com/Cities-Automobile-Dependence-Peter-Newman/dp/1857421035
Newman, P. and Kenworthy, J. (1999). Sustainability and Cities. Washington, DC: Island Press. https://islandpress.org/books/sustainability-and-cities
New Zealand Government, (2010). Spatial Planning Options for the Auckland Council, Cabinet paper from the Minister for the Economic Development and Environment, Wellington, New Zealand. http://www.mfe.govt.nz/more/cabinet-papers-and-related-material-search/cabinet-papers/auckland-governance-reform/spatial
North Shore City Council (2003) North Shore City District Plan. Auckland: North Shore City Council. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/district-and-regional-plans/district-plans/north-shore-district-plan/Pages/north-shore-district-plan-text.aspx
Phan, T., Peterson, J., and Chandra, S. (2009). Residential Intensification in a suburban fringe local government area, Casey, Melbourne Metropolitan area, Australia. Australasian Journal of Regional Studies 15(1): 81-100. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255650342_Residential_intensification_on_a_suburban_fringe_local_government_area_in_the_Melbourne_Metropolitan_Area_Australia
Quastel, N., Moos, M. and Lynch, N. (2012). Sustainabilty-as-Density and the Return of the Social: The Case of Vancouver, British Columbia. Urban Geography 33(7): 1055-1084. https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3638.33.7.1055
Randolph, B. (2006) Delivering the compact city in Australia: current treads and future implications. Urban Policy and Research 24(4): 473-490. https://doi.org/10.1080/08111140601035259
UK Government .(2009). World Class Places: The Government’s Strategy for Improving Quality of Place, London: Department for Communities and Local Government. http://www.veilig-ontwerp-beheer.nl/publicaties/world-class-places-the-government2019s-strategy-for-improving-quality-of-place/view
Waldner, L. (2008) Regional plans, local fates? How spatially restrictive regional policies influence county policy and regulations. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 35(4): 679 – 700. https://doi.org/10.1068/b33061
Wiles, J.L, Rosenberg, M.W. and Kearns, R.A. (2005), Narrative analysis as a strategy for understanding interview talk in geograohic research, Area, 37 (1), 89-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2005.00608.x
Woodcock, I., Dovey, K., Wollan, S., and Robertson, I. (2011) Speculation and Resistance: Constraints on Compact City Policy Implications in Melbourne. Urban Policy and Research 29(4): 343-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/08111146.2011.581335
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
