Can zoning reform change urban development patterns? Evidence from Auckland

Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy and James Allan Jones
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Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy: University of Auckland, New Zealand
James Allan Jones: University of Auckland, New Zealand

Urban Studies, 2025, vol. 62, issue 12, 2415-2435

Abstract: In 2016, Auckland implemented a widespread upzoning to encourage medium density infill housing. This article describes the institutional processes preceding the reform, quantifies the changes in land use across the metropolitan area and documents subsequent changes in residential housing starts. We show that approximately three-quarters of residential land was upzoned, predominantly in areas close to transportation network access, and between 5 and 25 km of the central business district (CBD). Six years on from the reform, housing starts have increased; are located closer to the CBD, employment locations and transportation network access points; and are predominantly infill and attached housing. Spatial decompositions show that these patterns are exclusively driven by changes in housing starts in upzoned areas.

Keywords: agglomeration/urbanisation; development; housing; land use; planning; upzoning; é›†è š/城市化; å ‘å±•; ä½ æˆ¿; 土地利用; 规划; åˆ†åŒºå ‡çº§ (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:62:y:2025:i:12:p:2415-2435

DOI: 10.1177/00420980241311521

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