Opinion

Council eyes Plan profits

Auckland Council wants to be able to take a slice of any increase in value of properties that have their zoning changing from low density to high density housing, or rural properties that are rezoned urban.

Monday, May 06th 2013

The proposal is contained within an addendum to the council's draft Auckland Unitary Plan, which aims to boost intensification of the country’s biggest city.

"At the moment in New Zealand, any increase in land value resulting from the rezoning decision remains with the landowner," the council's draft plan says.

But under its "shared land value uplift" proposal, the council would take some of the capital gains, either through a fee from developers, taking a portion of a developer’s profit or a city-wide levy.

Opponents have slammed it as a tax grab by stealth.

The plan is yet to be notified but includes some dramatic changes to areas such as Takapuna, Milford, Onehunga, Royal Oak and New Lynn, as the council tries to find ways to house the city’s growing population.
Under the plan, 44 per cent of the city will stay mostly unchanged but 56 per cent is earmarked for intensification.

In centres such as Albany, Botany, Henderson and Sylvia Park, properties will be allowed up to 18 storeys. In Avondale, Flat Bush, Glen Innes, Milford, Northcote and Manurewa – among others – owners will be able to build up to eight storeys.

Any building more than four storeys high will have to sit back from the street.

Already, 13 property owners have applied to Auckland Council demolish their houses and build multi-storey properties.

Some of the biggest gains will be for the owners of homes who find their properties are newly sub-divisable. That is expected to boost values by at least $100,000 in each case.

Comments

On Wednesday, May 08th 2013 3:22 pm Paulus said:

The council already profits from increased rates when these property values increase. Council seems to do everything they can to make houses as unaffordable as possible.

On Tuesday, December 24th 2013 2:26 pm Robert Chisholm said:

Where the re-zoned land has had discounted rates for many years, like a golf course or church, then the council is right to recover those rebates. Where the land has paid rates like everyone, the increase in growth will pay the increase in rates that the council needs.

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