Plan notifications are meant to be a way for the public to participate in projects that will affect them, but too often, they’re used as a tool to oppose any and all development.

Obviously, we don’t like that here at the Coalition for More Homes. So we’re doing our bit to even it out.

Auckland Council has publicly notified plans for 135 new dwellings at 198-202 Dominion Road, 214-222 Dominion Road, and 113-117 Valley Road, Mount Eden – that means the public can make submissions on the development. We’ve summarised some of the key information (more is available here) to help you make a submission and provide a positive voice for housing in Auckland.

About the development

So, where is this site and the proposed development? It’s located in the heart of the Valley Road shops on Dominion Road. Opposite a major supermarket, there are dozens of local shops, eateries, pharmacies, doctors and schools within a short walk. It is also on two frequent bus routes (Busses at least every 15 minutes) and the development will add 5 new commercial premises, to support the growth of the local centre.

The site is in the Local Centre and Terraced Housing and Apartment (THAB) Zone. As the name implies, this zone is generally meant to allow apartments to be built without going through the notification process. We think this development is an excellent example of what that zone should be enabling: Developments designed to be in keeping with existing buildings, while enabling slightly higher density. You can see the design for yourself in this render:

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We think this development looks pretty good. You can check out more renders in this tweet here.

Despite being an excellent development and within the THAB zone, this development has been notified due to a mixture of height, height in relation to boundary, stormwater, and other THAB standards being breached.

In our view, this is the type of development we should be allowing along the entire length of Dominion Road, and across the rest of the central isthmus. It being notified is a prime example of how the Unitary Plan simply does not appropriately enable development in this location.

How can I help?

Write a submission by clicking here. You submission can be as simply as you like, just say what you like about the development, or why you think it’s a good thing. Whatever you say, it will help us get this one over the line, and the ball rolling on the rest of the corridor, which is a great place to build homes.

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