Building strong urban centres and neighbourhoods

In keeping with our commitment to a quality compact urban form, it will be essential that Auckland's centres and neighbourhoods are strong, connected and can flourish.

Centres

Over the next 30 years there will be considerable changes right across Auckland. Ensuring that Auckland creates and retains strong, thriving and resilient centres is vital. A network of centres serves communities from regional through to local level.  This network is reflected in the Auckland Unitary Plan hierarchy of centres.

Centres are at the heart of neighbourhoods and are focal points for the surrounding community. They include a mix of activities and functions, such as retail, commercial and social services, as well as housing, recreation and community facilities.

Auckland's centres are supported by a surrounding (typically residential) area that is within an easy walking distance, usually thought of as 10 minutes.

Neighbourhoods

Growth will happen in neighbourhoods too. The Auckland Unitary Plan enables growth throughout most of Auckland's existing urban footprint, and all neighbourhoods are capable of accommodating growth to some extent.

This might be in the form of subdivision, development of previously undeveloped urban land or the redevelopment of existing buildings at higher densities. All are workable options for increasing Auckland's housing stock.

However, there are areas in Auckland that have the potential to achieve higher levels of growth than others. These are identified as development areas. Together with future urban areas they play an important role in Auckland's future growth.

Related information

• What will Auckland's city centre look like in the future
• What will Albany look like in the future
• What will Westgate look like in the future
• What will Manukau look like in the future
• What will Warkworth look like in the future
• What will Pukekohe look like in the future
• Wynyard Quarter - the changing nature of industrial land
• Placemaking at New Lynn
• Advanced industries
• Auckland's electricity network
• Auckland's horticultural production
• Auckland Plan 2050 – Full Print Document (PDF 36.6 MB)
• Auckland Plan 2050 - Print document - Development Strategy July 2018 (PDF 17.3 MB)
• Auckland Plan 2050 - Development Strategy - Development Areas (PDF 418 KB)
• Auckland Plan 2050 - Development Strategy - Nodes Combined (PDF 179 KB)
• Auckland Plan 2050 - Development Strategy - Remaining Existing Urban Area (PDF 8.06 MB)