Rezoning approved for Otara residential development

Sue Simons and Olivia Gunn successfully secured the approval of Plan Change 90 to the Auckland Unitary Plan, allowing the rezoning of 4.4 hectares of land at 8 Sparky Road, Ōtara for residential development.

The land will be rezoned from Business – Light Industry to Residential - Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings zone.

Plan Change 90 also marks the first private plan change to incorporate the Medium Density Residential Standards as required by the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021. 

The land is part of the former Ōtāhuhu Power Station and was ‘orphaned’ from the remainder of the 37-hectare site upon the creation of Highbrook Drive. It presented a number of geographical constraints, creating significant challenges for the intended industrial zoning.

Auckland Council opposed the rezoning, citing concerns that it did not align with the Auckland Regional Policy Statement to achieve a quality compact urban form and a well-functioning urban environment, including in relation to land use and transport. The Council also alleged that rezoning did not give effect to the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement. Other submitters also raised concerns about transport integration, coastal hazards, urban design and ecological matters.

Sue Simons led a multi-disciplinary team of experts who produced extensive evidence on the rezoning, including in relation to urban design, economics, acoustics, ecological, archaeological, engineering, geotechnical, visual and landscape, contamination, transport, coastal hazards, planning and corporate matters. The teams' work ensured that all aspects of the rezoning were carefully considered, and any potential effects would be appropriately managed by the precinct provisions.

Ultimately, the Panel of independent commissioners considered the change in zoning to be more appropriate than retaining the current zoning. It found it to be consistent with the statutory framework, including the Auckland Regional Policy Statement and the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, and that any effects could be appropriately managed through the tailored precinct provisions.

Sue Simons said, “This was a tough project – converting industrial zoned land to residential was no mean feat. Hard work by a talented team saw us through some tough opposition.”