Welcome to the Auckland Sustainable Cities Programme

ABOVE: (1) The Urban Design Protocol is a voluntary commitment to create quality urban design. It provides a platform to make New Zealand towns and cities more successful through quality urban design. (2) Mayor Dick Hubbard speaking at the launch of The Value of Urban Design

Approach
Moving towards sustainable urban form, design and development in the Auckland region requires systemic change across a range of processes that frame the built environment. These projects are concerned with ensuring sustainability is included in relevant legislation, regulation, policies and guidelines. They focus on regional processes and also national processes with regional/urban form relevance.

Projects
New Zealand Urban Design Protocol
The NZ Urban Design Protocol is a national cross-sector commitment to achieving good urban design, with a linked programme of actions to give it effect. It is aimed at those sectors involved in urban design and development, specifically central government, local government, developers and investors, professional bodies, and educational institutes.

The UFDD work strand has supported uptake of the Protocol in the Auckland region - all Auckland Councils are now signatories. The work strand also hosted the successful launch of the “Value of Urban Design” report, in conjunction with the Property Council of New Zealand.

Huge benefits from quality urban design (PDF 18kb) (media release, Hon. Marion Hobbs, 28.6.2005)
Mayor gives Minister commitment to good urban design (PDF 42kb) (media release, Mayor Dick Hubbard, 28.6.2005)
Urban design a priority for everyone says ARC (PDF 52kb) (media release, ARC, 28.6.2005)
Urban Design Protocol: the Auckland launch seen as key to bridging the gap between mediocrity and quality (PDF 23kb) (media release, Property Council of New Zealand, 28.6.2005)

Regional Policy Statement and Plan Changes:
The Auckland Regional Policy Statement has been reviewed to better integrate transport and urban form. Reflecting the climate of increasing acceptance of sustainable urban form, design and development, the notified changes include direct references to sustainable building and urban design (see sections 2.6.8 – 2.6.10).
These changes will support other aspects of the UFDD work programme, particularly around the Sustainable Building Index and Sustainable Public Buildings objectives.

Unit Titles Act
The Unit Titles Act is currently under review. The governance and management of multi-unit buildings (particularly apartments and townhouses) is a key issue for the sustainable intensification of the Auckland region. 45,000 people are estimated to be living in unit titled property today and this could rise to 500,000 people by 2050. Research conducted by the ARC identified a number of problems and deficiencies associated with unit titles and the management of bodies corporate, particularly around management practices, maintenance, and inadequate consumer protection. The UFDD workstrand has facilitated regular updates on the review process.

UFDD: Encouraging Uptake