Imagine moving into your very own home and just a year later having a three-storey townhouse pop up in your neighbour’s backyard, blocking your precious natural light and privacy. Gutted, right?
With Auckland’s ever-expanding population and plans for growth, that could become a reality.
The Auckland Unitary plan has been brought into effect to guide Auckland through what will be, over time, a radical change.
Checking out that guide – the Unitary Plan, before you buy, will enable you to find out how the Council expects each area to change in the future. When you’re looking to buy a home for yourself, that’s important information.
The good news is that you can search the Unitary Plan map online, for free, and it’s easy – it’s even colour coded!
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Unitary Plan zones
All land in Auckland has a zone. That zone reflects how the various areas can be used, developed or protected.
Zoning can also identify how the current land use is expected to change in the future.
Some of the more commonly discussed residential zones are Single House Zone, Mixed Housing Suburban Zone, Mixed Housing Urban Zone and the Terrace Housing and Apartment Building Zone.
Each zone has its own set of rules.
There are many different types of zones in the unitary plan, each of which has its own rules, including what can be built, building height limits, how the land can be used and what sort of activities the buildings or land can be used for (housing, business, offices, etc).
The rules also cover other aspects such as the distance between the homes, outdoor space required and the number of dwellings on the site.
Read on for a link to the Council’s excellent guide oto the meaning of each zone.
Why first home buyers should search the Unitary Plan zone maps before buying:
Find out what your future neighbourhood could be like.
By checking the zoning of a property, and the immediate area, you’ll quickly get an insight into what the Council expects the area to be like in the future. This should be one of your considerations when deciding if the home and area are right for you.
If you intend on living in the home for years to come, this is especially important. Over time, will you be surrounded by properties with one house on the site? terrace houses? or apartment buildings?
Make a strategic home buying decision.
If you’re buying your first home as a stepping stone, making a carefully calculated home buying decision now can help set up your financial future. Which zone do you believe has the most potential?
If you’d like to investigate this further, there are town planners/consultants in Auckland who consult on an hourly basis (send us a note if you’d like a couple of names).
If you’re wondering, you can still buy a freehold section in a relatively central Auckland suburb for less than $650,000.
The Zoning could impact the sales price.
However, this will depend on the type of property. Ever wondered why a home sold for a much higher price than a seemingly similar home down the road? It could be because of the zoning of the property.
Here's the low down:
Check the zoning of the home you’re considering buying as well as the local area. That way, you’ll have a better understanding of what you’re really buying into.
Where to find the information you need:
Find a property zone: Enter the property address/s to search for the zoning.
Learn more about the meaning of the zones: A summary of the new residential zones (with photographs).
Dive deeper into the Unitary Plan zones: An excellent video presentation by a town planning consultant.
First Home Buyer’s Bootcamp: Our three-week course will teach you how to buy your first home in Auckland with complete confidence.
