Sign of the future

Planning a new town centre is a process that begins many years before there is any tangible evidence of activity.

The planning consultants for Sylvia Park, Barker & Associates, had worked with owners Kiwi Income Property Trust for several years prior to construction. Initially Barker & Associates worked to secure the town centre zoning for the site, and subsequently to gain the required resource consents for the centre itself.

Director of Barker & Associates Nick Roberts explains that in the initial stages, the company's brief was to facilitate the establishment of a new town centre in a location identified in the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy as a growth node.

"In a planning sense, Sylvia Park was seen as being a catalyst for establishing a new community in this area. Around this area in the future, we expect to see an intensive residential environment developing. This will be within walking distance, and Sylvia Park itself will offer work and transport opportunities," he says.

Key to a successful planning process is the close communication between owner and local council, balancing the client's commercial objectives with the requirements of the Resource Management Act and the expectations of the local council.

"Having worked through all the issues and taken a strongly collaborative approach with the council, this centre now provides a good balance of commercial and community features," says Roberts.

Community features include a large outdoor plaza, a railway station, bus station, public green areas and public amenities such as a police station, community rooms and Plunket facilities.

"Weaving these elements in was a direct result of the resource management process," he adds.

For more details, contact Barker & Associates, PO Box 37 806, Parnell, Auckland, phone (09) 375 0900, fax (09) 375 0901. Email: nickr@barker.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas