Abstract
Residential intensification and compacting of cities are now popular planning policies in New Zealand and global cities. In New Zealand, this policy must ensure it is aiding the wellbeing of its population - a significant priority in New Zealand’s environmental legislation, policies and system. A barrier to wellbeing nationwide has been the inability of urban areas in the country to keep pace with population growth, particularly in the provision of housing. Policy and legislation like the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD 2020), which removes many restrictions on building height and density, and recent loosening of housing supply restrictions aim to combat this. This is combined with the actions of Councils, who look to densify and create compact urban forms in their area. Overall, a distinct increase in activity and density is expected in cities around New Zealand.
The aim of this thesis is to examine how this will impact on the wellbeing of populations, and how wellbeing can be further provided for in this context. The thesis focuses on Christchurch’s Central City. With already planned growth in population and density, it will be significantly impacted by these changes. How wellbeing can be provided for in Central Christchurch is examined, given the different priorities of the public and private sectors, and the community. The current and future growth and development in Central Christchurch was examined and compared with the “Compact City” model – a well-known model for sustainable cities that is influencing the development of New Zealand cities. Frameworks for wellbeing, such as Canterbury’s Wellbeing Index, were examined and used to evaluate Central Christchurch’s state of wellbeing and how it could change.
Key informants were interviewed, and the public was surveyed for their views on Central Christchurch, to assess what has been planned and implemented for the Central City and whether it is a net positive for the wellbeing of those who live in, work in, or visit the area.
The research showed many positives – density when combined with sustainable transport can provide many benefits by improving accessibility to goods, services, amenities, and social and economic opportunities – especially if the less advantaged are among those in the dense areas. However, density is stalling due to premium land prices pushing many businesses away from the area. Unaffordable housing prices also limit who can live in the area and benefit more from the area’s density, sustainable transport, and green space. Persistent use of cars despite the presence of sustainable transport infrastructure also harms wellbeing through congestion, less exercise, more noise, and pollution. Many methods suggested to improve wellbeing focus on better fulfilling elements of the Compact City through economic incentives and disincentives – offsetting costs for dense development that is near sustainable transport and green space, levying poorly used land, incorporating congestion charges, and aiding affordable housing through inclusionary zoning and subsidisation. The right steps are being taken for a healthy Central City, but further action is needed, with possible actions being included as Recommendations at the end of the thesis.