Planning the future for business locations

Culmination of an important stage in planning Auckland’s future occurred recently with endorsement by North Shore City Councilors of a series of Business Location Principles. This followed endorsement of the principles by Councilors at Waitakere City Council and Rodney District Council.

The seven principles, covering issues such as business land supply, intensification and leadership, provide policy guidance for all three Councils in Auckland’s northwest sector for planning the location of business development over the next 20 years. They were formed during three Business Futures Forums hosted in North Shore, Rodney and Waitakere, during October, November and December 2005. Each forum brought Councils and economic development agencies together with businesses and other interested organisations, including Transit NZ and the Auckland Regional Council among others, to discuss the growth issues each is facing.

The principles will form part of the Councils’ contribution to consultation being conducted by the Auckland Regional Council for a wide-ranging review of the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy, to be conducted this year. The Growth Strategy underpins planning for the city. It was released in 1999 as a response to population growth pressures and provides a vision for the region to 2050. However, it has been acknowledged that in advocating a compact city with intensification around growth nodes and transport hubs, it focuses on residential growth primarily, while overlooking the location and expansion of business. This is the aspect that the Business Location Principles address.

Each of Auckland’s three northwest authorities is among the fastest growing and most dynamic areas in the country. Each has recognised the importance of business for employment and contribution to sustainable local growth. But managing the demands of business, the environment and people, requires a balance to be struck between a desire for a compact city with good transport, community and social facilities and the best use of scarce business land. The Business Location Principles are demonstration of the willingness of Councils and their economic development agencies to work together with business to resolve issues highlighted in the three Futures Forums. The next step is formulation of agreement of how the three Councils will conduct their consultation for the review of the strategy.


For more on the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy, see: www.arc.govt.nz
Download the Business Location Principles for Auckland’s northwest sector