New Zealand Urban Design Protocol - Ministry for the ... · The Urban Design Protocol recognises that: towns and cities are complex systems that require integrated management quality

New ZealandUrban Design Protocol

Published in March 2005 by the

Ministry for the EnvironmentManatu- Mo- Te TaiaoPO Box 10-362, Wellington, New Zealand

ISBN: 0-478-18993-1

ME number: 579

This document is available on the Ministry for the Environment’s website:www.mfe.govt.nz

The Urban Design Protocol forms part of the Government’sSustainable Development Programme of Action.

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Advisory GroupThe New Zealand Urban Design Protocolhas been prepared by the Ministry for theEnvironment in conjunction with the UrbanDesign Advisory Group.

Urban Design Advisory Group

■ Penny Pirrit, Manager Environmental Planning,Auckland City Council

■ Robert Tongue, City Architect, DunedinCity Council

■ Patrick Fontein, Principal, KensingtonProperties and President of the AucklandBranch of the Property Council of New Zealand

■ John Sinclair, Consultant, Architectus

■ Chris McDonald, Senior Lecturer, VictoriaUniversity School of Architecture

■ Ernst Zollner, formerly Lecturer, University ofAuckland Department of Planning, now ChiefAdviser, Strategic and Economic Development,Wellington City Council

■ Doug Leighton, Principal, Boffa Miskell

■ Kaaren Goodall, Executive Director, Committeefor Auckland

■ David Fox, Managing Director, Fox andAssociates

■ Simon Whiteley, Policy and Strategy Manager,Land Transport New Zealand

■ John Tocker, formerly Development PlanningManager, Housing New Zealand, now Principal,David Jerram Architects

■ Alison Dalziel, formerly Adviser, Department ofPrime Minister and Cabinet and Chair of theSustainable Cities Senior Officials Group

Ministry for the Environment

■ Lindsay Gow, Deputy Chief Executive and Chairof the Urban Design Advisory Group

■ Luke Troy, Senior Adviser

■ Yvonne Weeber, Senior Adviser

■ Frances Lane Brooker, Senior Adviser

■ Erica Sefton, Senior Adviser

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ForewordThe New Zealand Urban Design Protocol marksa significant milestone in our nation’s urbandevelopment. The changes we make now in theway we design our towns and cities will make adifference not just to us, but to our children andour children’s children in how they live their lives.The Urban Design Protocol forms part of theGovernment’s Sustainable DevelopmentProgramme of Action, which aims to ensure ourtowns and cities are healthy, safe and attractiveplaces where business, social and cultural lifecan flourish.

New Zealand is one of the most urbanised nationsin the world - almost 87 percent of our populationlive in towns and cities. Yet we haven’t paid enoughattention to making the places we live in successfulplaces that work for people.

The design of our towns and cities affects almostevery aspect of our lives - we all live and work inbuildings, and use streets, public spaces, transportsystems and other infrastructure. We need toensure that what we design meets people’s needsand aspirations, and that people want to live there.We need to ensure our towns and cities aresuccessful places that contribute positively toour identity as a nation.

The Urban Design Protocol is the first step towardimproving the quality of our towns and cities.The actions that individual signatories take will,together, make a significant difference. TheGovernment is also committed to raising thestandard of urban design, and we will lead thischange through a programme of actions.

The success of the Urban Design Protocol inattracting such strong support from across NewZealand and so many different sectors illustratesthat the time is right for New Zealand to make aleap forward in the quality of our urban design. TheUrban Design Protocol is just the start of a numberof initiatives that will be developed under theUrban Affairs portfolio, and which will demonstratethe Government’s commitment to creating townsand cities that we can all be proud of.

Hon Marian L HobbsMinister with Responsibility for Urban AffairsMinister for the Environment

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Contents Page #

Executive Summary 4

Vision and Mission Statement 5

Section 1 - Introduction 6

Section 2 - Attributes of Successful Towns and Cities 12

Section 3 - Key Urban Design Qualities - the Seven Cs 17

Section 4 - Making it Happen 25

Section 5 - Signatories to the Urban Design Protocol 31

Appendix 1 - Guiding Documents 34

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Executive SummaryThe New Zealand Urban Design Protocol provides aplatform to make New Zealand towns and citiesmore successful through quality urban design.It is part of the Government’s SustainableDevelopment Programme of Action and UrbanAffairs portfolio.

Urban design seeks to ensure that the design ofbuildings, places, spaces and networks that makeup our towns and cities, work for all of us, both nowand in the future.

The Urban Design Protocol identifies sevenessential design qualities that together createquality urban design:

■ Context: seeing buildings, places and spaces aspart of whole towns and cities

■ Character: reflecting and enhancing thedistinctive character, heritage and identity ofour urban environment

■ Choice: ensuring diversity and choicefor people

■ Connections: enhancing how differentnetworks link together for people

■ Creativity: encouraging innovative andimaginative solutions

■ Custodianship: ensuring design isenvironmentally sustainable, safe and healthy

■ Collaboration: communicating and sharingknowledge across sectors, professions andwith communities.

The Urban Design Protocol is a voluntarycommitment by central and local government,property developers and investors, designprofessionals, educational institutes and othergroups to undertake specific urban designinitiatives. The actions that individual signatoriestake will, together, make a significant difference tothe quality of our towns and cities.

To support the implementation of the UrbanDesign Protocol, the Government will provideleadership through a suite of supporting resourcesand a programme of action. These will build thecapacity of organisations to deliver quality urbandesign, provide guidance, raise communityawareness, and ensure that the key messages ofthe Urban Design Protocol are firmly grasped andput into action.

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Vision and Mission StatementVision

Making New Zealand towns andcities more successful throughquality urban design.

Mission statement

The New Zealand Urban Design Protocol callsfor a significant step up in the quality of urbandesign in New Zealand and a change in the waywe think about our towns and cities. As part ofa co-ordinated programme of sustainabledevelopment, it aims to ensure New Zealand’stowns and cities are successful places for people.

It will achieve this by:

■ creating a national cross-sector commitmentto quality urban design

■ providing a national resource of tools, actionsand experiences

■ setting up partnerships between government,the private sector and professionals

■ increasing the awareness of quality urbandesign and demonstrating its value.

The Urban Design Protocol recognises that:

■ towns and cities are complex systems thatrequire integrated management

■ quality urban design is an essentialcomponent of successful towns and cities

■ urban design needs to be an integral part of allurban decision-making

■ urban design requires alliances across sectorsand professionals

■ urban design applies at all scales, from smalltowns to large cities

■ urban design has a significant influence onpeople and how they live their lives

■ our towns and cities are important expressionsof New Zealand’s cultural identity includingour unique Maori heritage.

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Introduction

This New Zealand Urban Design Protocol (Urban Design Protocol) is part of the Government’s

Sustainable Development Programme of Action. The Urban Design Protocol is a key deliverable of the

‘Sustainable Cities’ action area, which seeks to make our cities healthy, safe and attractive places

where business, social and cultural life can flourish.

It supports and builds on a range of government strategies for improving our urban environments

that encompass economic growth and innovation, transport, housing, regional development, social

development, health, disability, and culture and heritage (see Appendix 1).

The principal audiences for the Urban Design Protocol are urban decision-makers in government,

property developers and investors, and professionals working in the built environment, including

planners, architects, landscape architects, surveyors, transport planners, and engineers. The purpose

of the Protocol is to signal the Government’s commitment to quality urban design, to start debate

and raise awareness of urban design across the country, to improve the exchange of learning and

information, and to initiate a programme of action to result in quality urban design.

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The Urban Design Protocol is supported by UrbanDesign Case Studies that show practical examplesof successful urban design; an Urban Design Toolkitthat provides a compendium of tools andmechanisms to help create quality urban design; aSummary of Urban Design Research, coveringcurrent research in New Zealand on urban designand urban environments; and a Value Case, whichshows evidence of the link between quality urbandesign and economic, environmental, social andcultural value (see Section 4).

The Urban Design Protocol will be implementedthrough the actions of its signatories, throughleadership by government, and through raisingwider awareness of the value of quality urbandesign. By endorsing the Protocol, signatories areindicating their commitment to the pursuit ofquality urban design that will result in benefits,both to the signatory and the wider community.

What is a protocol?

A protocol is a formal undertaking betweensignatories. Parties to a protocol agree to supportand demonstrate the principles outlined in thedocument and to make demonstrable progresstowards achieving its vision. A protocol is anagreement and has no force in law.

What is urban design?

Urban design is concerned with the design of thebuildings, places, spaces and networks that makeup our towns and cities, and the ways people usethem. It ranges in scale from a metropolitan region,city or town down to a street, public space or evena single building. Urban design is concerned notjust with appearances and built form but with theenvironmental, economic, social and culturalconsequences of design. It is an approach thatdraws together many different sectors andprofessions, and it includes both the process ofdecision-making as well as the outcomes of design.

What is the value of urban design?

Quality urban design is important for everybodybecause our lives are connected through ourcommon built environment. We all live and work inbuildings, and use streets, public spaces, transportsystems, and other forms of urban infrastructure.Quality urban design creates places that work andplaces that we use and value.

Urban design has economic, environmental,cultural and social dimensions. Increasingly we arerecognising the economic importance of our townsand cities to the national economy. Quality ofinfrastructure and quality of life are key factors increating successful towns and cities. Urban designcan have significant positive effects on both.Quality urban design also increases economic valuewith higher returns on investment, reducedmanagement and maintenance costs, moreproductive workplaces, and enhanced imageand prestige.

Quality urban design values and protects thecultural identity and heritage of our towns andcities and provides for creativity. It reinforcesNew Zealand’s distinctive identity. Quality urbandesign also adds social, environmental and culturalbenefits by creating well connected, inclusive andaccessible places, and by delivering the mix ofhouses, uses and facilities that we need. It canenhance safety, reduce crime and fear of crime andenhance energy efficiency. Quality urban designcan provide us with more and better opportunitiesfor physical activity, resulting in improved physicaland social wellbeing.

Quality urban design produces benefits at acity-wide level as well as at the scale ofneighbourhoods and individual buildings or spaces.For example, a well designed transport networkintegrated with land use improves accessibility andmobility, contributes to a better quality of life,

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encourages healthier lifestyles, uses less non-renewable energy, and contributes to improvedeconomic performance.

A well designed building and adjacent spacesproduce higher capital values and rental returns,lower long term maintenance costs, increasedproductivity from its occupants, better securityand less crime and fear of crime, and increasedcivic pride.

The benefits of quality urban design accrue tobusinesses through increased productivity andprestige; to communities in improved urbanenvironments and safer, healthier places; andto developers and investors in better returns oninvestment.

Research has found no evidence that quality urbandesign necessarily increases development costs.Indeed good design is fundamental to achievingvalue for money, because it creates functional,productive, robust and attractive environments.Design costs are typically a very small proportion ofwhole life costs (less than 0.5 percent), yet designchoices have a significant impact on constructionand operating costs and on the wider community.

The Value Case (see Section 4) contains ourresearch and examples that support this.

Urban settlement in New Zealand

Urban settlement in New Zealand has occurredrelatively recently, especially when compared toEurope and Asia. Our first urban areas were Maorisettlements sited strategically to take advantage ofa natural food source or an easily defendedposition. Patterns of previous Maori settlement andthe relationship of tangata whenua with the landremain important aspects of urban design.

The colonial pattern of European settlement hasstrongly influenced the development of our townsand cities. It is no accident that most of our townsand cities are located on or near the coast, as asheltered harbour was a prerequisite for access bycoastal transport before the development of theroad and rail networks.

The founders of new towns in New Zealand soughtto provide residents with the amenities perceivedto be lacking in large industrial British cities.Because land was readily available and townsrelatively small, many more people could aspire tosuburban living in a detached house with a garden.The prevalent mode of transport had a significantimpact on the pattern, size and form of our townsand cities. Suburbs initially grew around horse-drawn vehicles, but the introduction first of tramsand then of private motor vehicles saw rapidsuburban expansion into outer areas. Today ourlarger cities have extensive, low-density housing ontheir suburban edges with inner areas typicallyhaving a more varied mix of housing densities anduses, often laid out in a traditional grid pattern.

Our towns and cities are characterised by theirdistinct natural topographies and often dramaticlandscape settings. For example: Auckland’svolcanic cones, Rotorua’s geothermal features,Wellington’s faultlines and harbour, Christchurch’sfloodplain and mountain backdrop, andQueenstown’s spectacular lake and mountains.These landscapes create the uniqueness of oururban areas but they can also dictate growthpatterns and present obstacles to infrastructuredevelopment.

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What can urban design do for

New Zealand?

Our towns and cities are experiencing significantgrowth pressures, ranging from the massivepopulation growth of Auckland and continuedurban expansion in Wellington and Christchurchto growth in smaller regional towns that offerdesirable lifestyle opportunities like Queenstown,Nelson and Tauranga. How we manage this growthand the quality of development will have asignificant influence on the liveability andsustainability of where most New Zealanders live.

The growth issues we have to deal with includehow to design better suburbs on the edge of townsand cities, how to successfully intensify in our innersuburbs, and how to design liveable apartments incity centres.

Quality urban design can help us avoid some ofthe problems of poorly designed low-densitydevelopments that we have experienced in thepast. These problems have included: trafficcongestion, unsustainable energy use, overloadedurban infrastructure, a lack of distinctive identity,social isolation, and reduced physical activity withits associated problems such as obesity, diabetesand heart disease.

In many of our cities we have seen a trend towardsmulti-unit developments (these accounted for20-30 percent of all building permits approved inAuckland over the past five years). Quality urbandesign can help ensure multi-unit developmentsprovide attractive, liveable and affordable options,without impacting on our heritage and distinctiveidentity, our privacy, or overloading our urbaninfrastructure.

In some of our smaller towns, we are experiencingdifferent issues associated with stagnant ordeclining populations. Some of the issues we haveto deal with include the declining quality of the

building stock, insufficient funding base tomaintain and renew urban infrastructure, andpressure to accept poor quality design to secureeconomic development opportunities. A proactivestrategy to ensure quality urban design can helpaddress some of these issues.

The costs of poor design fall on all of us, whenwe have to live or work in poorly designedbuildings, when we have to use dysfunctional orunsafe public spaces, when we are cut off fromessential services, and when, as property owners,businesses or ratepayers, we have to pay for longterm maintenance.

The message we can learn from overseas is thataddressing these issues requires co-ordinatedthinking and a more structured approach tomanagement of our urban areas. Managing theeffects of individual activities is not enough on itsown, we also need to manage urban systems andtheir interconnections. Quality urban design is anapproach that can help us achieve this.

A co-ordinated approach

Creating quality urban design requires actionacross a wide range of sectors, groups andprofessions. Professionals in all disciplines needto work together in a ‘common space’, as no oneprofession can understand the full complexity ofa town or city.

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Each group can make an important contribution to realising the vision.

Central government ■ Lead at a national level

■ Demonstrate quality urban design through its own developmentand activities

■ Co-ordinate policies and actions across whole of government

■ Develop appropriate legislation and policy guidance

■ Set appropriate national standards and policy statements

■ Promote national awareness of urban design

■ Support local government

■ Co-ordinate urban design research

■ Work with education institutes to improve urban design education

Local government ■ Lead at a regional/local level

■ Demonstrate quality urban design through its own developmentand activities

■ Develop appropriate statutory policies, rules and guidance

■ Manage statutory decision-making processes to ensure quality urbandesign outcomes

■ Promote regional/local awareness of urban design

■ Share research and ‘best practice’

■ Integrate urban management

■ Work collaboratively with the private sector

Developers and investors ■ Demonstrate quality urban design in every development

■ Work collaboratively with local government

■ Involve communities in projects

■ Recognise the public interest

Consultants ■ Champion quality urban design

■ Promote quality urban design to clients

■ Participate in local decision-making and design advisory processes

■ Develop and promote ‘best practice’ approaches and tools

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Professional institutes ■ Champion quality urban design

■ Develop and promote ‘best practice’ approaches and tools

■ Improve skills and knowledge through education and training

■ Work collaboratively with other professional institutes

Educational institutes ■ Lead research on urban design

■ Work collaboratively with the public and private sectors

■ Participate in local decision-making and design advisory processes

■ Develop training courses to improve understanding and application ofurban design

Sector organisations ■ Work with their sector to improve understanding and application ofurban design

■ Advocate for quality urban design

■ Work collaboratively with the public and private sectors

Community ■ Recognise the stewardship roles and responsibilities withurban environments

■ Demand quality urban design

■ Develop community action projects

■ Participate in community engagement forums

■ Lead proactive neighbourhood projects

Iwi and iwi authorities ■ Recognise the kaitiaki roles and responsibilities with urban environments

■ Advocate for quality urban design

■ Develop community action projects

■ Participate in community engagement forums

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Attributes of SuccessfulTowns and CitiesSuccessful towns and cities are increasingly being recognised as vital to the health of our national

economy. Success does not happen by chance but as a result of good planning based on a long

term vision and co-ordinated implementation.

This section identifies six essential attributes that successful towns and cities share. Drawing on

the Sustainable Development Programme of Action, they incorporate economic, environmental, social

and cultural factors. It is the combination of all these attributes that leads to success.

Quality urban design is an important contributing factor to all six attributes. Well designed urban

spaces, places, buildings and networks are essential building blocks upon which many other attributes

of successful towns and cities are built.

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Successful towns and cities are:Competitive, thriving, creative

and innovative

Successful towns and cities are competitivecentres and economic hubs for New Zealand.They provide platforms for growth, especially inadvanced business services, creative industries,hi-tech industries, and as centres of learningand innovation.

Competitive and thriving towns and cities attractdynamic and innovative knowledge workers,entrepreneurs and companies. They appeal totalented people because they offer a high qualityof life, effective transport systems, highenvironmental quality, good leisure and recreationopportunities, thriving cultural centres, arts andhistoric heritage, and a distinctive cultural identity.

Creativity is a hallmark of successful towns andcities. Creative towns and cities facilitate newways of thinking and innovative ways of solving

problems. They foster new partnerships andsupport centres of learning. Creative cities have astrong identity, a rich cultural life and are wellconnected regionally and internationally. Theyhave a culture of innovation and they invest inpeople. Creative cities connected to global marketsare a primary source of innovation, technologicaldevelopment and wealth creation in moderneconomies.

Liveable

Successful towns and cities provide a high qualityof life where people choose to live and work. Theyprovide attractive living environments, they offergood leisure and recreational opportunities, andthey support a thriving cultural life.

Liveable places provide choices in housing, work,transport and lifestyle opportunities. They are easyto move around, with accessible services and avariety of integrated transport options that includewalking and cycling. Their public spaces areaccessible, well used and safe. Liveable places arehealthy places to live, and they have low levelsof crime.

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Images from left to right

1 George Street, Dunedin.

2 Tauranga waterfront.Photo courtesy of Tauranga City Council.

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Environmentally responsible

Successful towns and cities maintain, celebrate andadd to their best environmental attributes. Theyrecognise the role that landscape and the naturalenvironment play in making their urban areasgreat places to live and work, and they value thecontribution they make to their identity, liveabilityand quality of life. They enhance these qualities bymaintaining and sometimes recreating naturalnetworks throughout their urban areas, and bydesigning new buildings, transport services andinfrastructure that meet the highest standards ofsustainable design and construction.

Environmentally responsible towns and citiesmanage resources to take account of the needsof present and future generations. Growth andeconomic development is sympathetic to thenatural environment and cultural heritage andminimises the city’s environmental footprint.Environmentally responsible towns and citiesconstantly seek ways to minimise adverse impactson human health and natural and cultural systems,including air quality and water quality. Theyminimise waste production, energy and wateruse, and maximise the efficiency of land useand infrastructure.

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1 Rewarewa Footbridge, Waitakere City.

2 Northwood, Christchurch.

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Successful towns and cities have:Opportunities for all

Successful towns and cities accommodate allcitizens and offer opportunities for young and old,people on low incomes and people with disabilities.The benefits of urban life are widely shared. Theyprovide access to jobs, affordable homes, servicesand community facilities. Successful towns andcities are inclusive societies that respect andcelebrate diversity and care for the disadvantaged.They build a strong sense of community, andencourage people to participate in makingdecisions that affect them. A successful town orcity is equitable and everyone feels a sense ofownership, which is reflected in their safe anddynamic public spaces.

Distinctive identity

Successful towns and cities have a strong andlocally distinctive identity that builds on the uniquestrengths and characteristics of each place and thecultural identity of New Zealand. They reflect ourheritage and culture in their built form, in thelandscape, and in the way spaces are organised andused. Successful towns and cities reflect ourincreasingly diverse ethnic mix, including all peoplewho have made New Zealand their home -indigenous Maori, Europeans, Pacific Islanders,and Asians. Recognising and promoting a town’sor city’s identity encourages diversity of culturalexpression through design that recognisesdistinctive use of space, form and materials.It fosters local pride, civic engagement andconfidence, and it stimulates innovation, creativityand economic opportunities.

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1 The Strand, Tauranga.Photo courtesy of Tauranga City Council.

2 MLC Building and Protoplasm (sculpture), Wellington.Photo courtesy of Wellington City Council.

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Shared vision and good governance

A successful town or city has a clear sense ofdirection and a widely shared vision. There isgenuine engagement with communities andleadership at many levels. Creative ideas areencouraged and freely exchanged between peopleand government.

In a successful town or city, local governance iseffective, efficient and confident. Leaders areprepared to take risks to deliver the best outcomes,but priorities and trade-offs are made explicit, andthe benefits and costs of decisions are understood.Decision-makers think holistically and creatively,and they learn from mistakes. They work inpartnership with businesses, iwi and other localcommunities to reach shared goals.

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1 Newmarket Futures Workshop.Photo courtesy of Auckland City Council.

2 Northern Growth Management Framework,community consultation, Wellington.Photo courtesy of Wellington City Council.

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Key Urban Design Qualities -the Seven CsThe Urban Design Protocol identifies seven essential design qualities that create quality urban

design: the seven Cs. They are: Context, Character, Choice, Connections, Creativity, Custodianship and

Collaboration. These are a combination of design processes and outcomes.

The seven Cs:

■ provide a checklist of qualities that contribute to quality urban design

■ are based on sound urban design principles recognised and demonstrated throughout the world

■ explain these qualities in simple language, providing a common basis for discussing urban issues

and objectives

■ provide core concepts to use in urban design projects and policies

■ can be adapted for use in towns and cities throughout New Zealand.

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Context

Quality urban design sees buildings, places andspaces not as isolated elements but as part of thewhole town or city. For example, a building isconnected to its street, the street to itsneighbourhood, the neighbourhood to its city,and the city to its region. Urban design has astrong spatial dimension and optimisesrelationships between buildings, places, spaces,activities and networks. It also recognises thattowns and cities are part of a constantly evolvingrelationship between people, land, culture andthe wider environment.

Quality urban design:

■ takes a long term view

■ recognises and builds on landscape contextand character

■ results in buildings and places that areadapted to local climatic conditions

■ examines each project in relation to its settingand ensures that each development fits inwith and enhances its surroundings

■ understands the social, cultural and economiccontext as well as physical elements andrelationships

■ considers the impact on the health of thepopulation who live and work there

■ celebrates cultural identity and recognises theheritage values of a place

■ ensures incremental development contributesto an agreed and coherent overall result.

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1 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings.Photo courtesy of Isthmus Group.

2 Mt Victoria, Wellington.

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Character

Quality urban design reflects and enhances thedistinctive character and culture of our urbanenvironment, and recognises that character isdynamic and evolving, not static. It ensuresnew buildings and spaces are unique, areappropriate to their location and complimenttheir historic identity, adding value to our townsand cities by increasing tourism, investment andcommunity pride.


■ reflects the unique identity of each town,city and neighbourhood and strengthensthe positive characteristics that make eachplace distinctive

■ protects and manages our heritage, includingbuildings, places and landscapes

■ protects and enhances distinctive landforms,water bodies and indigenous plants andanimals

■ creates locally appropriate and inspiringarchitecture, spaces and places

■ reflects and celebrates our unique NewZealand culture and identity and celebratesour multi-cultural society.

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1 West Quay, Waitara.Photo courtesy of Isthmus Group.

2 The Bach, Ponsonby Road, Auckland.Photo courtesy of Auckland City Council.

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Choice

Quality urban design fosters diversity and offerspeople choice in the urban form of our towns andcities, and choice in densities, building types,transport options, and activities. Flexible andadaptable design provides for unforeseen uses, andcreates resilient and robust towns and cities.


■ ensures urban environments provideopportunities for all, especially thedisadvantaged

■ allows people to choose different sustainablelifestyle options, locations, modes of transport,types of buildings and forms of tenure

■ encourages a diversity of activities withinmixed use developments and neighbourhoods

■ supports designs which are flexible andadaptable and which will remain useful overthe long term

■ ensures public spaces are accessible byeverybody, including people with disabilities.

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1 Chancery, Auckland.Photo courtesy of Isthmus Group.

2 The Strand, Tauranga.Photo courtesy of Tauranga City Council.

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Connections

Good connections enhance choice, support socialcohesion, make places lively and safe, and facilitatecontact among people. Quality urban designrecognises how all networks - streets, railways,walking and cycling routes, services, infrastructure,and communication networks - connect andsupport healthy neighbourhoods, towns andcities. Places with good connections betweenactivities and with careful placement of facilitiesbenefit from reduced travel times and lowerenvironmental impacts. Where physical layouts andactivity patterns are easily understood, residentsand visitors can navigate around the city easily.


■ creates safe, attractive and secure pathwaysand links between centres, landmarks andneighbourhoods

■ facilitates green networks that link public andprivate open space

■ places a high priority on walking, cycling andpublic transport

■ anticipates travel demands and providesa sustainable choice of integratedtransport modes

■ improves accessibility to public servicesand facilities

■ treats streets and other thoroughfares aspositive spaces with multiple functions

■ provides formal and informal opportunities forsocial and cultural interaction

■ facilitates access to services and efficientmovement of goods and people

■ provides environments that encourage peopleto become more physically active.

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1 Transport Interchange, Wellington.

2 Britomart Rail Terminal, Auckland.Photo courtesy of Auckland City Council.

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Creativity

Quality urban design encourages creative andinnovative approaches. Creativity adds richnessand diversity, and turns a functional place into amemorable place. Creativity facilitates new waysof thinking, and willingness to think throughproblems afresh, to experiment and rewrite rules,to harness new technology, and to visualise newfutures. Creative urban design supports adynamic urban cultural life and fosters strongurban identities.


■ emphasises innovative and imaginativesolutions

■ combines processes and design responsesthat enhance the experience we have ofurban environments

■ incorporates art and artists in the designprocess at an early stage to contribute tocreative approaches

■ values public art that is integrated into abuilding, space or place

■ builds a strong and distinctive local identity

■ utilises new technology

■ incorporates different cultural perspectives.

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1 Avondale Fun Day, Auckland.Photo courtesy of Auckland City Council.

2 Lord of the Rings - Premier Opening, Wellington.Photo courtesy of Wellington City Council.

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Custodianship

Quality urban design reduces the environmentalimpacts of our towns and cities throughenvironmentally sustainable and responsive designsolutions. Custodianship recognises the lifetimecosts of buildings and infrastructure, and aims tohand on places to the next generation in as good orbetter condition. Stewardship of our townsincludes the concept of kaitiakitanga. It createsenjoyable, safe public spaces, a quality environmentthat is cared for, and a sense of ownership andresponsibility in all residents and visitors.


■ protects landscapes, ecological systems andcultural heritage values

■ manages the use of resources carefully,through environmentally responsive andsustainable design solutions

■ manages land wisely

■ utilises ‘green’ technology in the design andconstruction of buildings and infrastructure

■ incorporates renewable energy sources andpassive solar gain

■ creates buildings, spaces, places and transportnetworks that are safer, with less crime andfear of crime

■ avoids or mitigates the effects of natural andman-made hazards

■ considers the on-going care and maintenanceof buildings, spaces, places and networks

■ uses design to improve the environmentalperformance of infrastructure

■ considers the impact of design onpeople’s health.

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1 Community planting at Whenua Rangatira, Auckland.Photo courtesy of Auckland City Council.

2 Mountainview School, Manakau City.

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Collaboration

Towns and cities are designed incrementally as wemake decisions on individual projects. Qualityurban design requires good communication andco-ordinated actions from all decision-makers:central government, local government,professionals, transport operators, developers andusers. To improve our urban design capability weneed integrated training, adequately fundedresearch and shared examples of best practice.


■ supports a common vision that can beachieved over time

■ depends on leadership at many levels

■ uses a collaborative approach to design thatacknowledges the contributions of manydifferent disciplines and perspectives

■ involves communities in meaningfuldecision-making processes

■ acknowledges and celebrates examples ofgood practice

■ recognises the importance of training inurban design and research at national,regional and local levels.


1 Out for a walk.Photo courtesy of Auckland City Council.

2 Newmarket Futures Workshop, Auckland.Photo courtesy of Auckland City Council.

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Making it Happen

The Urban Design Protocol is more than just a statement of the importance of quality urban design.

It seeks to make a real difference to the quality of New Zealand’s towns and cities through concerted

action by all stakeholders. Making it happen requires action by the signatories to the Urban Design

Protocol, leadership from central government, the development of resources to support its

implementation, and raising awareness across New Zealand of the value of quality urban design.

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Signatories to the Urban Design Protocol

The leading signatories to this Urban DesignProtocol come from a wide range of organisationsspanning central government, local government,the private sector, educational institutes,professional bodies and other sector groups. Theyrepresent many of our major towns and cities,infrastructure providers, decision-makers andinfluencers. Each of these organisations has madea commitment to create quality urban designthrough their own actions. By setting an examplefor others to follow, they will make a real differenceto the quality of our urban areas.

To maximise the impact of this Urban DesignProtocol, we need to increase the number ofsignatories over time. We are aiming forcommitment from all local governments, includingthose that represent our smaller towns, from allrelevant government departments and crownentities, and from all sector groups involved in thedesign of our towns and cities. Getting thiscommitment will require a concerted effort acrossNew Zealand to raise awareness of the importanceof urban design, and the example set by theleading signatories will be instrumental inachieving this.

A register will be kept of all signatories tothe Urban Design Protocol, and will beupdated regularly.

Benefits of being a signatory

Becoming a signatory to the Urban Design Protocolsignifies an organisation’s commitment tocontinuous improvement of its urban areas, andrecognises its role in helping set an example forothers in their sector.

Signatory organisations will have exclusive accessto the ‘Design Champions Network’, providing avaluable forum for sharing information andexperiences in developing policy and actions onurban design issues. Nominated design championswill be able to attend training sessions andworkshops and meet high level representativesfrom both their own sector and other sectors.Signatories also have access to the package ofresources developed to support the Urban DesignProtocol, to help them develop and implementtheir action programmes.

Signatory organisations will be eligible for specialcategories of award within the overall ‘NationalUrban Design Awards’ for relevant programmes,projects and developments. Signatories will also begiven preference in future funding or supportprogrammes developed as part of the Protocolimplementation package.

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Actions by signatories

Signatories commit to putting the Urban DesignProtocol into effect by developing, monitoring andreporting on a set of actions specific to theirorganisation. Over time these actions will changethe way our towns and cities are managed, andwill ensure that the commitment to quality urbandesign is carried out throughout the work ofeach organisation.

The ‘Action Pack’ provides examples of actions anorganisation might take to implement the UrbanDesign Protocol. Ideas are provided for localgovernment, central government, developers andinvestors, and other organisations. Actions can betargeted across all aspects of an organisation’sactivities, from strategy development to decision-making to research and staff training. The ideasare grouped in categories, including:

■ championing urban design and raisingawareness

■ developing strategy and policy

■ planning futures

■ being a good client

■ making decisions

■ exchanging information and research

■ integrating management

■ building capacity.

Signatory organisations select their chosen actionsand report them to the Ministry for theEnvironment within six months of the date ofsigning up to the Urban Design Protocol. Thechoice of actions is at the discretion of the

signatory organisation, however they are expectedto be challenging and ambitious. The Ministry forthe Environment will prepare and keep up-to-datea publicly available list of actions.

There is only one mandatory action: each signatorymust appoint a ‘Design Champion’ - someoneinfluential at a senior level who can promote andchampion urban design, and who can challengeexisting approaches throughout the organisation.

Monitoring and reporting

As part of their commitment to the Urban DesignProtocol, signatories monitor and report on theimplementation of their specific set of actions.They will develop a monitoring plan and submitthis to Ministry for the Environment alongsidetheir set of actions. The plan will outline how theimplementation and outcomes of the actions willbe monitored and reported. Guidance on how andwhat to monitor will be provided.

Each signatory will be required to submit a reportto the Ministry for the Environment on theimplementation of their set of actions. The firstreport back will be 31 August 2006, and thereafterevery two years. These reports will be collated intoa national report on the implementation of theProtocol and progress in achieving quality urbandesign in New Zealand. This will track:

■ implementation of Urban Design Protocolactions across New Zealand

■ lessons learnt from implementing the UrbanDesign Protocol actions

■ awareness of urban design

■ significant changes to urban design processes

■ demonstrable urban design outcomes.

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Review

The Urban Design Protocol will be reviewedafter a period of two years to determine if it hascontributed to improving the quality of urbandesign, and to ensure that it is still relevant andtargeted appropriately. The monitoring programmeforms an important part of this review. As partof the review process, all signatory organisationswill be asked to renew their commitments. Anorganisation may be removed from the registerif, after two years, they have not made adequateprogress in implementing their set of actions,and have not met their commitment to qualityurban design.

Leadership by central government

The Government recognises its role in providingleadership to improve the quality of urban designacross New Zealand. It supports the Urban DesignProtocol and will ensure that central governmentdepartments and relevant crown entities becomesignatories and participate fully in itsimplementation.

The Government has developed a suite ofsupporting resources and a programme of actionto support the Urban Design Protocol. These aim tobuild capacity and knowledge across all sectors,providing further guidance, raising communityawareness, and ensuring that the importantmessages of the Urban Design Protocol are firmlyembedded and put into action.

(a) Supporting resources

A number of resources have been developed tohelp signatories and other key decision-makerswith realising the vision of the Urban DesignProtocol. They are relevant to public and privatesector organisations, professionals in all the designdisciplines (eg, planning, engineering, architecture,landscape architecture and surveying), as well asother sector and community groups.

■ Urban Design Toolkit - the toolkit provides acompendium of tools and techniques that canbe used to create quality urban design. Itincludes a set of common terms to describethe tools and processes, outlines their purpose,advantages and disadvantages, gives examplesof where in New Zealand they have been used,and provides links to further information. Thetools are linked to common categories of workto make finding information easy.

■ Urban Design Case Studies - the case studiesprovide 16 examples of built developmentsthat demonstrate some of the urban designqualities outlined in the Urban DesignProtocol. They come from a range of locationsand land uses throughout New Zealand. Eachcase study is analysed against the UrbanDesign Protocol’s seven Cs, the benefits thaturban design has added, and the lessons learntfrom the design process. The case studiesdemonstrate the practical application of urbandesign principles in New Zealand, the resultingbenefits, and areas where improvements couldbe made. Over time, new case studies will beadded to this database, including those carriedout by signatories as part of their programmeof actions.

■ Urban Design Value Case - the value casepresents a rationale and evidence for the linkbetween quality urban design and economic,social, environmental and cultural benefits.It demonstrates the value that urban designadds at the site and city-wide scales.Qualitative and quantitative examples andscenarios show the contribution that goodurban design makes to successful townsand cities. It is particularly relevant toproperty investors and developers and to keydecision-makers.

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■ Summary of Urban Design Research - thisdatabase summarises current New Zealandresearch on urban design and issues related tothe form and function of urban environments.Decision-makers can use it to find relevantresearch to help them develop programmes,policies and actions. It includes research beingundertaken by central and local government,tertiary education institutions, privateconsultants and other service providers. Thissummary will be updated annually.

(b) Programme of action

THEME: Championing Urban Design andRaising Awareness

As part of its commitment to the Urban DesignProtocol the Government will undertake thefollowing initiatives:

■ National Urban Design AwardsNational awards for quality urban designdevelopments, projects and programmes. To bedeveloped in conjunction with professionalinstitutes and the Property Council.

■ Year of the Built Environment 20052005 has been declared the ‘Year of the BuiltEnvironment’, and there will be a co-ordinatedprogramme of events to raise communityawareness of built environment issues andhow they affect people’s lives. This is beingundertaken in conjunction with the NewZealand Institute of Architects and a steeringgroup of other organisations.

THEME: Developing Strategy and Policy

■ National Policy StatementActively investigating whether a nationalpolicy statement on urban design couldprovide guidance to councils making decisionsunder the RMA. A work programme fordeveloping national policy statements will bedetermined in early 2005.

THEME: Being a Good Client

■ Best Practice Urban Design Guidelines(government departments)Guidelines on how government departmentscan ensure that their direct developmentactivities achieve quality urban design.

THEME: Exchanging Information and Research

■ Urban Design ResearchWorking with research funders to revise targetoutcomes for urban-related research as part ofinvestment strategy reviews.

THEME: Integrating Management

■ Government Precinct Demonstration ProjectDevelopment of a framework plan andimplementation programme for a‘Government Precinct’ in Thorndon,Wellington. This will be developed inconjunction with the Wellington City Councilas an urban design demonstration projectunder the Urban Design Protocol.

THEME: Building Capacity

■ Urban Design Champions ProgrammeA programme to provide shared learning andnetworking across sectors for designchampions identified by signatories to theUrban Design Protocol.

■ Continuing Professional Development TrainingA programme of urban design continuingprofessional development training forarchitects, planners, landscape architects,engineers and surveyors.

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(c) Further initiatives to be investigated

In addition to this programme, the Government(in conjunction with key partners) will investigatethe feasibility and suitability of other initiativesto increase the take-up and delivery of qualityurban design. Many of these were proposed infeedback on the draft Urban Design Protocol.The implementation of these further initiativeswould be subject to resources being available.

■ National Urban Design GuidelinesDeveloping national guidance on achievingand assessing the quality of urban design inthe development and re-development of urbanareas, possibly including performance criteriaand best practice tools and techniques. Thiscould become a pivotal resource to helpdecision-makers, particularly those involved inResource Management Act decisions, andwould be especially useful where moredetailed local guidelines are not available.

■ New Zealand Centre ofUrban Design ExcellenceCreating a national centre of excellence inurban design to promote good practice,co-ordinate and disseminate research anddevelop training and skills. This could startas a virtual centre and might grow into aphysical resource. It could be developedas a collaborative venture betweenseveral partners.

■ National Urban Design Advisory PanelForming a national advisory panel to provideadvice and comment on developmentproposals. The panel could comprise designprofessionals and representatives from theproperty sector. It could provide voluntaryadvice on projects of national importance andprojects undertaken by governmentdepartments. This could be particularly helpfulfor smaller local governments who are facingmajor development pressures.

■ Urban Design Initiatives FundCreating a funding pool to provide matchedfunding for urban design projects andprogrammes undertaken by local government,professional bodies, sector and communitygroups. This could accelerate the uptake ofurban design across New Zealand.

■ Capacity Support for Local GovernmentForming a pool of urban design experts to bemade available to smaller local governmentsto support the development of agreed urbandesign projects and initiatives. This couldprovide access to expert skills not otherwiseavailable for resourcing or locational reasons. Itmight also help address the critical shortage ofskilled urban design resources in New Zealandthrough providing flexible part-time workattractive to retired or non-workingprofessionals.

■ Addressing Skills ShortagesAddressing the current shortage ofprofessionals with skills in urban design andurban management through a programme toidentify skills shortages, and work with otheragencies (eg, tertiary education institutes, theNew Zealand Immigration Service andprofessional institutes) to find solutions toaddress them.

(d) Urban affairs

The Government, led by the Ministry for theEnvironment, is also preparing a Statement ofUrban Affairs Priorities that will define the focus ofthe urban affairs portfolio and identify theGovernment’s priorities for further action.Improving the quality of urban design is likely to beone of the initial priorities of this programme.Some of the initiatives suggested as part of thefeedback on the draft Urban Design Protocol, butwhich fall outside the scope of urban design, willbe considered in the wider context of urban affairs.

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Signatories to the UrbanDesign Protocol

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We are committed to creating quality urban design and we recognise our role and responsibility inachieving this. Within six months of signing we will develop a set of actions to implement ourcommitment, and we will monitor and report by 31 August 2006 to the Ministry for the Environmenton these actions.

Central Government

Auckland Regional Public Health Service

Department of Building and Housing

Housing New Zealand

Land Transport New Zealand

Landcare Research

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management

Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Ministry of Education

Ministry for the Environment

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Transport

New Zealand Defence Force

New Zealand Historic Places Trust

New Zealand Police

Toi Te Ora Public Health

Transit New Zealand

Local Government

Auckland City Council

Auckland Regional Council

Christchurch City Council

Dunedin City Council

Environment Waikato

Franklin District Council

Hastings District Council

Invercargill City Council

Local Government New Zealand

North Shore City Council

Rodney District Council

Waitakere City Council

Wellington City Council

Developers and Investors

Hopper Developments

Kitchener Group of Companies

McConnell Property

Property Council of New Zealand

Vodafone NZ

Consultants

Architecture Workshop

Architectus

Beca

Bell Kelly Beaumont

Boffa Miskell

Co-Design Architects

Davis Ogilvie & Partners

Fox & Associates

Graeme McIndoe

Ian Butcher Architects

Isthmus Group

Jerram Tocker Architects

MWH New Zealand

Opus International Consultants

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RA Skidmore Urban Design

Roger Boulter Consulting

Transurban

Urbanismplus

Urban Perspectives

Wes Edwards Consulting

Professional Institutes

Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand

IPENZ Traffic and Transportation Group

New Zealand Institute of Architects

New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects

New Zealand Institute of Surveyors

New Zealand Planning Institute

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Educational Institutes

Department of Planning, The University of Auckland

Lincoln University

University of Otago

Victoria University of Wellington

Sector Organisations

Building Research Association of New Zealand

Cancer Society of New Zealand

CCS

Christchurch Civic Trust

Committee for Auckland

Cycle Advocates’ Network

Environment and Business Group

Living Streets Aotearoa

New Zealand Construction Industry Council

New Zealand Water Environment Research Foundation

Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand

Sustainable Cities Trust

Town Centres Association of New Zealand

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Guiding Documents

The Urban Design Protocol is part of a growing framework of national policy guidance around

successful towns and cities and quality urban design.

1Appendix

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Safer Communities Action Plan To Reduce

Community Violence and Sexual Violence

(June 2004)

This action plan sets out a range of initiatives tocombat community violence and sexual violence.The action plan consists of four priority areas:

■ attitudes to violence

■ alcohol related violence

■ violence in public places

■ sexual violence.

The violence in public places priority area focuseson establishing and supporting national ‘CrimePrevention Through Environmental Design’guidelines to be used by local government andother urban design practitioners.

www.justice.govt.nz/pubs/reports/2004/action-plan-community-sexual-violence

Building the Future: Towards a New

Zealand Housing Strategy (April 2004)

The draft strategy sets out a direction for housingfor the next 10 years. It recognises that housingplays a major role in creating healthy, strong andcohesive communities as well as contributing toour national economic wealth. Six action areas areproposed, including improving housing quality andimproving housing affordability.

www.hnzc.co.nz/nzhousingstrat/index.htm

Heritage Management Guidelines for

Resource Management Practitioners (2004)

Guidelines to promote the sustainablemanagement of historic heritage and to assistlocal government, owners and developers throughthe resource management process.

www.historic.org.nz/publications/HM_guidelines.html

Sustainable Development Programme of

Action (January 2003)

A programme of action for sustainabledevelopment. This programme is based on fourinitial action areas, one of which is ‘SustainableCities’. The overall goal for sustainable cities is - ourcities are healthy, safe and attractive places wherebusiness, social and cultural life can flourish.

The key government goals to guide the publicsector in achieving sustainable development are:

■ strengthen national identity and uphold theprinciples of the Treaty of Waitangi

■ grow an inclusive, innovative economy for thebenefit of all

■ maintain trust in government and providestrong social services

■ improve New Zealanders’ skills

■ reduce inequalities in health, education,employment and housing

■ protect and enhance the environment.

www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/sus-dev/sus-dev-programme-of-action-jan03.html

New Zealand Transport Strategy

(December 2002)

The strategy calls for transport to be integratedwith other urban issues and identifies the keyrole transport must play in helping New Zealanddevelop economically and socially in asustainable way.

Five key objectives are identified:

1. Assisting economic development

2. Assisting safety and personal security

3. Improving access and mobility

4. Protecting and promoting public health

5. Ensuring environmental sustainability.

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The strategy covers all modes of transport andrecognises that transport is integral to everycommunity and is a principal determinant ofurban form.

www.beehive.govt.nz/nzts/home.cfm

Creating Great Places to Live + Work + Play

(June 2002)

A practical guide for local government and otherson the processes and tools to create liveable urbanenvironments.

www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/live-work-play-jun02/live-work-play-jun02.html

The Growth and Innovation Framework

(February 2002)

A framework to achieve higher levels of economicgrowth through sustainable development. Itacknowledges the important role cities play ineconomic growth, and it recognises that a keyfactor in international competitiveness is theability to retain and attract talented people, partlythrough the quality of our urban environments. Italso recognises the importance of working inpartnership with other sectors to achievesustainable growth.

www.gif.med.govt.nz

People + Places + Spaces: A Design Guide for

Urban New Zealand (January 2002)

A design guide for urban New Zealand. Thisdocument supports the Urban Design Protocol andprovides detailed guidance on urban designprinciples and how to create better urban design ata project level.

www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/people-places-spaces-mar02/index.html

New Zealand Disability Strategy

(April 2001)

The strategy provides a framework to beginremoving the barriers that prevent disabled peoplefrom participating fully in society and ensures theneeds of disabled people are considered bygovernment before making decisions.

www.odi.govt.nz/nzds/about-the-strategy.html

New Zealand Health Strategy

(December 2000)

The strategy forms the strategic framework for thehealth and disability sector in New Zealand andoutlines the goals and objectives for health gain. Itidentifies the priority areas the Government wishesto concentrate on. It outlines 13 health objectives,including some relating to the built environmentand increasing physical activity.

www.moh.govt.nz/nzhs.html