Productive housing: Exploring potential at the intersection of housing and highly productive land in New Zealand : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University

Abstract

Aotearoa New Zealand’s most productive soils are under threat from urban sprawl, and in particular by the subdivision of rural land for low to medium-density housing developments. Although strategic planning is undertaken by district councils to identify city limits and the best areas for urban expansion, district plans can be challenged privately by developers, through a ‘plan change request’ process. Plan Change 69 (PC69) is one of many developer-led proposals in the Selwyn District seeking to rezone rural land for residential development. Using PC69 as a case study, this research investigates opportunities to reconcile the demand for housing and the preservation of highly productive land. The study uses a ‘design thinking’ framework, first seeking to understand the sentiment of the existing community, then responding with potential design scenarios based on relevant urban design theory. The purpose of this design research, rather than finding a singular and conclusive solution, is to provide multiple opportunities as a source for discussion, debate and future research. Alongside the PC69 proposal, three possible alternative futures are identified which explore potential at the intersection of housing and food, and the implications of prioritising one dimension over another. These highlight that there is potential to integrate both housing and food on highly productive land, though to achieve this, we may need to embrace residential models that differ from the current low-density approach applied in most peri-urban greenfield sites in Aotearoa.