Good urban design in its broadest context is significant to all of the region in achieving the quality environment outcomes we seek. More particularly it underpins and supports the good regional form projects identified in the WRS including:
Centres retail
Industrial land
Intensification
Rural residential development
Affordable housing
Integration of landuse and transport needs
Open space
There are three main urban design actions identified in the Wellington Regional Strategy document namely:
1. All councils are signed up to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol
All councils in the Wellington region are now signed up to the NZUDP.
2. The development and implementation of a Wellington regional urban design action plan and stocktake
The WRS office, in conjunction with the regional urban design working group (which is made up of representatives from the territorial authorities across the region, Ministry for the Environment and Victoria University), has compiled this plan. It was signed off by the WRS Committee on 21 July 2009. The plan includes a stocktake of urban design initiatives across the region as at March 2009 as well as the urban design related actions, milestones, and responsibilities for action in 2009. The action plan will be reviewed annually. It is also proposed to hold an annual Wellington regional urban design summit - the first scheduled for mid 2010.
3. Review of subdivision design guides
Kapiti Coast District Council lead this project. This action was included in the urban design action plan. The review of subdivision design guides was also part of a regional information sharing exercise which involved a stocktake of ways of managing subdivision and development, and looked at best practice across the Wellington region.
4. Urban Design Information Hub
As part of the action plan, an urban design information hub has been established (click on the link above). The information hub has been set up to provide a range of links to regional, national and international urban design related websites. There are also links to urban design courses being held within New Zealand.
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