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Nelson and Tasman - Climbing the ladder of the south
In 30 years, where will Nelson work, live and play? This South Island hot spot is set to see substantial growth in preparation for expected residential and business expansion.
With shops, cafes and restaurants lining Bridge and Hardy Streets, space for people to relax at pedestrianised Upper Trafalgar Street, a thriving museum, popular cinema and a humming weekend market — Nelson is the destination city at the top of the south.
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Over the next 30 years, Nelson’s city centre is expected to increasingly become a place to live and visit as people look past the quarter-acre dream in favour of a city-centre lifestyle.
Nelson and Tasman’s Future Development Strategy
In preparation, the Future Development Strategy (FDS) was implemented — a joint project carried out by Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council, which looks at where and how development will occur in the region over the next three decades. The strategy identifies locations suitable for growth, for residential or commercial development, and areas suitable for intensification and new greenfield opportunities to meet increased housing demand.
Following engagement with the development community, youth councillors, iwi and hapū, 200 sites across Nelson and Tasman were recently assessed as potentially suitable for future growth. The strategy is now being written and will be out for full public consultation this March.
Judene Edgar, Urban Development Subcommittee Chair, says certain themes emerged early in the engagement, particularly, intensification and the protection of highly productive land.
“Proximity to public transport, work and other amenities also featured in the engagement, as well as affordability and what Councils can do to help,” Edgar adds.
Housing affordability initiatives are key
Nelson City Council made housing affordability and intensification a priority in its latest Long Term Plan. Some of the proposals in that plan are now starting to take shape.
“We consulted on selling property owned by Council, close to the city centre, for development projects that would increase the supply of affordable housing in Nelson,” says Edgar.
“Our recent decision to sell land to Kāinga Ora is one of the first examples of this policy. If it goes ahead, commercial property on the outskirts of the city centre will be transformed into up to 175 affordable housing units.”
Fostering a new and improved city
An intensified city also needs to work for its residents. Vibrant streets and laneways are crucial for existing and future residents in the city centre.
Te Ara ō Whakatū, Nelson’s City Centre Spatial Plan, is a vision for Nelson’s city centre over the next 30 years. At its heart, the plan puts people back at the centre of the city, with a goal to see 2,000 people living in the city centre by 2050.
“Ideas in the plan include a lush, green linear park on Bridge Street, streets that prioritise pedestrians, better links to other precincts such as the marina and library, revitalised and reimagined laneways, public art that inspires fun and imagination, better facilities for young families, and more comfort and access for older adults,” says Edgar.
Intensification for residential living in the city centre will not be enough to ensure Nelson and Tasman can meet increased demand for housing and commercial property.
A $490 million infrastructure budget over the next ten years is geared towards increasing housing capacity — not just in the city centre but also in the surrounding suburbs and Stoke. Creating and maintaining a water network that can handle expected population growth — and the demands placed on it due to climate change — go hand in hand with improvements to public and active transport systems when it comes to increasing housing options.
“We know that greenfield development will also be necessary if we are to succeed in alleviating the effects of the housing crisis; the FDS will look at the best places for this to occur,” concludes Edgar.
