Plan to squeeze 80,000 people in Wellington expected to focus on inner-city, sparking heritage fears

Sunday, 26 July 2020

Covid-19 has barely dented house prices in major cities. (Video first published July 7, 2020)

A long-awaited plan for where to fit up to 80,000 new Wellington residents is imminent, with a fight already brewing over which buildings to save from the wrecking ball.

Stuff understands Wellington City Council’s draft “spatial plan” will promote denser building in the inner-city, rather than an expansion into new green field suburbs to accomdate the expected population growth.

The plan is expected to be published within the next few weeks, delayed slightly to take into account the Government’s new rules, announced last Thursday, preventing local councils from restricting building heights and imposing parking space requirements.

Wellington City Council estimates that over the next 30 years, the capital will need to make room for 50,000 to 80,000 more people.

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Wellington’s draft Spatial Plan is based on needing to find room for 74,000 extra residents in the next 30 years. That could mean some character houses facing demolition. (File photo)

Last year, residents were asked whether they want to house these people in the inner-city, existing suburban centres or new green field suburbs. There was a clear preference for the first two of these options.

Three organisations have raised serious concerns, alleging that the plans would allow pre-1930s buildings in inner-city residential character areas to be demolished without consent.

But how the capital will house an increasing population and where has raised questions and concerns over the city’s future and preservation of its past.

Three heritage organisations have claimed the incoming spatial plan would allow pre-1930s buildings in inner-city residential character areas to be demolished without consent to make way for high density housing.

Historic Places Wellington, the Thorndon Society and the Mt Victoria Historical Society have sent a letter to Mayor Andy Foster saying the draft plan should be postponed.

Wellington City Council estimates that over the next 30 years, Wellington will need to make room for 50,000 to 80,000 more people.

In the letter, the organisations said the predictions of growing population that underpinned the plan was highly questionable following coronavirus lockdown and there now “considerable uncertainty around living, working, visiting and migration patterns for Wellington”

The organisations also raised concerns with the timing of the six-week consultation as it overlapped with the election.

“It means public engagement is difficult when media focus is on the election campaign.

Wellington City Councillor Tamatha Paul says Wellington needs to intensify its housing and has needed to for a long time.

“The upcoming consultation on the very important matter of the strengthening of the central library heritage building is also important and risks overshadowing debate on the Spatial Plan ideas,” the organisations said.

“For those reasons, we believe it is not the right time to press on with plans designed to lead to intensification of the inner residential (character) areas by permitting demolition (without consent) of pre-1930 structures.”

Mt Victoria Historical Society’s convenor Joanna Newman said the character of suburbs like Mt Victoria – which had many Victorian and Edwardian era homes – was a huge contributor to the identity of Wellington.

Along with changes proposed by the Government to pave the way for more high-rise buildings in city centre, the look of some inner-city suburbs would change.

Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett says there needs to be a balance.

“If you had six-storey buildings along Adelaide Rd and Taranaki St, then that would match but if they were dotted through Mt Victoria, it would completely block the view of those wooden houses on the hill,” Newman said.

“I think the look and feel of a city is just as important as how many people you can fit into it. … are we really making a better city if we destroy all amenity value and cultural value?”

But Wellington City Councillor Tamatha Paul said despite Covid-19, it remained safe to assume the population of Wellington would continue to grow.

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster says Wellington has never stayed still.

“There’s lots of people experiencing precarious housing, and we have a gap in our housing stock.”

“We need to realise our population is growing, people see New Zealand and Wellington as an attractive place to live. Housing needs to be available and there will need to be a conversation about trade-offs.

“It won't be easy but for me, looking at that and looking at the conditions people live in … we need to intensify and have needed to that for a long time.'

Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett said most suburbs could expect some development in the future.

“There will be quality guidelines and if something gets demolished, something good will go in,” she said.

“I do think it's critical to value the character and history but there needs to be a balance against that so that everyone has a place to live.”

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said Wellington City Council had received strong feedback that the community supported densification.

Foster was sympathetic towards the organisations and heritage homes were important to the character of the city.

“I welcome having conversation with residents and these groups … we’ll be walking the streets and it’ll help us think about which streets do have coherent character and maybe those that don’t.”

However, just because buildings may be able to be build to six storeys did not mean that it will, he said.

“Over a period of time, it will change but Wellington has never stayed still … it’s about development that adds to the character rather than undermines it.”