Kāinga Ora to assess Auckland Light Rail Urban Development Project

The Minister for Housing and Minister of Finance have jointly directed Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities to assess the potential establishment of the Auckland Light Rail project as a Specified Development Project (SDP) under the Urban Development Act 2020 (UDA).

The proposed Auckland Light Rail Urban Development Project (ALRUDP), is an area comprising the majority of Auckland Light Rail’s proposed 24km City Centre to Airport route and much of Auckland’s CBD, will now be assessed by Kāinga Ora as a potential SDP as outlined under the Urban Development Act 2020 (UDA).

Direction given to Kāinga Ora from the joint Ministers states the proposed ALRUDP is aimed at enabling:

1. The development and renewal of the urban environment, with a focus on enabling large-scale urban development and housing development, and
2. The development of related commercial, industrial, community or other amenities, infrastructure, facilities, services of works.

The Ministers request Kāinga Ora assess whether establishing ALRUDP as an SDP would contribute to “sustainable, inclusive, and thriving communities in Auckland,” while enabling ALRUDP to achieve its initial business case goals of enabling  at least 66,000 additional households and 97,000 additional jobs by 2051.

Katja Lietz, Kāinga Ora GM Urban Planning and Design, says SDPs provide a way for central and local government, Māori, private developers and other key stakeholders to work together to achieve well-planned urban development with greater certainty and integration.

“If established, an SDP can facilitate close collaboration between key parties, bringing together a clear development plan aligning land-use planning, infrastructure planning and funding,” she says.

“This partnership approach is central to the SDP project assessment process also. Extensive planning of the ALRUDP has already been undertaken by ALR Ltd, Auckland Council, iwi and others. We will work closely alongside these parties as we evaluate whether the SDP tools available under the UDA have the potential to support optimal urban outcomes for Auckland as this key transport route is developed.”

Ms Lietz says the scale of the ALRUDP, and complexity, means that considerations will need to be taken about how to best undertake the project assessment.

“The proposed project area incorporates a large number of established communities, homes and businesses throughout Auckland,” she says.

“Given this, we will take the time to carefully consider how the project assessment is best approached.

“We look forward to sharing more about the project assessment process for Auckland, and the benefits a Specified Development Project can bring to urban development throughout the city in the very near future.”

For more information

Letter from the Minister to the Chair of Kāinga Ora [PDF, 588 KB] - June 2023

Specified development projects