Auckland’s Plan Change 78: In defence of the villa amid urban intensification push

Ponsonby is a perfect example of villas as far as the eye can see. (Image: Alex Burton)

Tue, 22 Apr 2025

Unless you are a planning nerd or need a cure for insomnia, the long-running saga of Auckland’s Plan Change 78 will have escaped your notice.Yet this arcane urban intensification instrument has far-reaching implications for our biggest city's future shape and liveability.PC78 is Auckland Council’s (AC) response to central government demands that local authorities free up extra capacity for residential and commercial development in their areas.However, since AC notified the plan change in 2022, seven worlds of natural disasters a...

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