Business sites at a premium

ARC strategic policy analyst Carole Canler says research indicates all vacant business zoned land would be used up within the next 15 years if the region continued growing at its current rate.

The ARC, with input from the region's city and district councils, is working on a business location strategy to try to ensure there is sufficient land and infrastructure to meet demands.

To create more space for businesses, land outside the metropolitan urban limits would have to be opened up for development.

But Ms Canler says one of the strategy's key policies is to control Auckland's sprawl.

"We want to keep changes to the metropolitan urban limits to a minimum."

She says intensive growth, rather than extensive growth, would be encouraged.

"With extensive growth all your infrastructure costs more."

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