29 May 2015

Govt to unveil Auckland housing blocks

5:15 am on 29 May 2015

The Government will today unveil the first blocks of Crown land in Auckland to be offered to developers for housing with a bus tour for media, accompanied by the Minister of Building and Housing, Nick Smith.

The view from Devonport towards Auckland city.

Photo: 123RF

Dr Smith announced last week that up to 430 hectares of surplus public land were being assessed as possible housing sites.

No details are available yet on what land will be in the first batch.

Following the bus tour this morning, Dr Smith will meet developers this afternoon.

The initiative is intended to increase the supply of housing land in Auckland, which is estimated to need 13,000 new homes each year for several decades.

Residential resource consents have risen, but only to an annual rate of 8000.

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