The heterogeneous impacts of widespread upzoning: Lessons from Auckland, New Zealand

Zoning reform is increasingly recognised as an important strategy to increase housing affordability and environmental sustainability. Few cities have undertaken significant upzoning of low-density neighbourhoods, making the 2016 Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP) probably most ambitious zoning in world. Parcels zoned for single houses previously dominated Auckland, but three-quarters them now allow multiple units. Existing studies documented building boom that followed this reform, yet relatively rare case offers additional insights. In article, we use appraisal, census data on over 200,000 parcels answer three research questions about heterogeneous impacts AUP. First, what extent did appraised value properties’ redevelopment options? Second, property values a greater degree higher-income more centrally located neighbourhoods? Finally, was significantly influenced by similar political pressures other countries? That is, less likely (and downzoning likely) The answers these are substantially, it’s complicated, yes.