12 Mar 2013

Auckland mayor appeals to PM over planning regime

9:29 am on 12 March 2013

Auckland mayor Len Brown is appealing to the Prime Minister to reverse a Government decision slowing the introduction of the city's new development blueprint.

Mr Brown has pointed to comments from Minister of Housing Nick Smith who said a three- to four-year lag before the Unitary Plan takes effect will slow the release of land needed for housing.

The mayor wants the Government to restore laws controlling local body district plans to the regime that existed prior to 2009.

Until then, such plans carried legal weight from the day they were finalised, meaning new planning regulations could be implemented immediately.

So far, the Government has agreed only to shorten a potentially lengthy period for appeals to the Unitary Plan to a maximum of three to four years.