Double Vision: Comparing Community Aspirations to Council Objectives for the Future of New Plymouth

Abstract

This thesis explores the alignment of community aspirations for long-term built environment objectives with the vision set out by Council officers through district planning documents. It looks in detail at the aspects of city centres, growth and housing for the city of New Plymouth, and how the aspirations of the Council and the community coalesce or diverge. In the context of a shifting urban atmosphere, the ongoing impacts on the COVID-19 pandemic, online retailing, national policy statements and the climate crisis must all be considered when looking to the future of cities. The particular challenge of aligning community expectations with expert planning measures is at the core of consultation efforts in the formal planning process. A qualitative questionnaire (community survey) and key informant interviews were used to gauge community aspirations and a policy analysis and interviews to establish the Council vision. The results of the community survey show the diversity of views within even a small city like New Plymouth. Strong interest in a wider range of housing types, including medium density apartments and one- or two-bedroom dwellings currently lacking in the city, are juxtaposed with a continuing desire for rural lifestyle living. The low-key urban lifestyle offered by New Plymouth city appeals in contrast to larger urban centres like Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland. However, the expected growth of the city boundary to accommodate further single-family dwellings has put the character of the ‘small city’ into question. Council continues to face pressures to unlock land for residential development. The ailing city centre, in no way unique to New Plymouth, was the focus of several suggested solutions, from evolution to revolution. New Plymouth locals expressed a variety of expectations, though overall aspirations are for increased social capacity and green space in the city centre. These findings are expected to be of use to New Plymouth District Council and related agencies in providing a greater understanding of community perspectives on the expectations and challenges for the future of New Plymouth’s urban form