Developers baulk at Hubbard plan

Intervention by the panel, formed early last year to stop ugly and tacky buildings appearing on the skyline, will lead to planning delays.

"Have all your buildings in Auckland designed by one person," quipped one disenchanted developer.

Hubbard has promised to have a big impact on what developers have planned.

"We have to strengthen the urban design area of Auckland City. It is under-resourced," he told the Herald.

"The urban design panel needs to be strengthened. The message from the Institute of Architects is they could do a lot more. In Sydney they give their panel a lot more teeth."

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