OPINION While the team at MHG generally agrees that the Unitary Plan represents a significant improvement on the previous planning regimes in Auckland, there is one rule in particular that I can’t for the life of me understand why we kept. This being the gross floor area (GFA) controls in the City Centre.
The Auckland Unitary Plan is working! More houses than ever are being consented. But this is only the beginning. Check out our Unitary Plan Guide which shows that all over Auckland there is development potential. This is intended as an “idiot’s guide” for accountants, lawyers, agents and to all those home owners who may become […]
A new report focusing on the cost of new residential developments, commissioned by Fetcher Building, has some surprising findings. “Residential land is the largest cost contributor to new housing development and the cost is highly variable between New Zealand and Australian cities”.
This article was originally posted in ‘The Hobson’ magazine March 2019 issue. Long summer nights, barbecues, with a syrah or rose to hand. Life is good. No excess, no deprivation, and you have choice as to when and where you buy your alcohol. Unless you’re in West Auckland. Here, liquor supply is under the control […]
At least that’s the rhetoric I’m hearing now. It’s probably because sales are getting slower in the suburbs first home buyers cannot afford. The average house price in Mt Albert, Royal Oak and Long Bay have declined the most out of all suburbs in Auckland in the last six months. And yet in suburbs like Takapuna […]
You’ve heard all about how the AUP is great for property owners. Today we are going enlighten you on just how some of you can take advantage! We’re discussing subdivision around an existing minor housing unit (MHU). If you currently have a minor dwelling on your property and you’re not located in the Single House […]
Over the last two years I have given an Unitary Plan presentation in almost every nook of the Auckland region. The presentation sets out the changes to that have occurred to our planning system. Ultimately, I outline what may occur on sites and suburbs. There is often a collective gasp when I tell them that some […]
Although we’re frustrated with Council’s bureaucracy all year long, the lead up to Christmas really begins to test our patience. Thankfully, a wonderfully crafted article by Jim Bright of the Sydney Morning Herald has let us know we’re not alone in the world. He has perfectly articulated what it’s like to work through Council, but […]
We’ve gone from the quarter acre dream to the quarter house dream. And I’m not complaining. I know and accept that the quarter acre dream is a thing of the past, at least in Auckland. I’m okay with this. If I had an 80m2 shoe box with a bedroom, kitchen, lounge, bathroom, a car pad […]
Over the last month or so you have read that Auckland Council has: Installed exspensive speed cameras and not commissioned them; Underestimated holiday pay to the tune of $20m; Charged $69,000 in building consent and water connection fees for 70m2 unit, then taken six months to issue the CCC and then; justified it all in […]