Reviewing the character of suburban areas to recommend future management and development.

The Porirua community raised concerns about the nature of development occurring within the City’s suburbs and villages and about the impact on amenity values and the character of those areas. There was a question whether the general approach taken in the District Plan was adequately protecting the particular characteristics which they value in their suburbs.

In response, Council initiated a full review of the District Plan’s Suburban Zone and also initiated a community planning exercise.

As part of both of these broader projects it was considered necessary to gain a better understanding of the natural and physical characteristics of the City’s suburbs, any differences between the characteristics of the City’s suburbs and to identify those characteristics or values which should/could be actively maintained, protected or enhanced.

Client

Poriura City Council

Location

Greater Wellington

Project team

Marc Baily
Pauline Whitney

Worked with

Graeme McIndoe

Project date

2004 - 2005

Awards

Silver Award | Landscape Planning and Environmental Studies Category | NZ Institute of Landscape Architects / Resene 'Pride of Place' Awards

The Suburban Character Study needed to:

  • Define the natural and physical characteristics of each of the City’s suburbs.
  • Identify any changes that may be occurring in the natural and physical characteristics of any suburb, and determine the pressure behind these changes.
  • Determine whether the characteristics of any suburb could/should be actively maintained, protected or enhanced and recommend options (including, but not limited to, possible District Plan provisions) to do this.
  • Identify those elements or characteristic which if improved would be beneficial for the quality of life in the suburb and identify options to achieve this.
  • Identify those suburbs or areas within a suburb which may be more capable of accommodating more intensive development.

Boffa Miskell collaborated with Graeme McIndoe (Architect and Urban Designer) to review the character of suburban areas within the city and provide recommendations for their future management and development. Components of natural and built character were assessed and recommendations made for their improvement, maintenance or protection.

The final report fed into a review of the city’s Suburban Zone and Long Term Council Community Plan.

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