Innovative design philosophy guides HLC’s housing developments

HLC’s Design Guidelines are helping us and our builder and developer partners to build better homes and public spaces at scale as part of the Auckland Housing Programme (AHP).

The guidelines will be applied to all HLC-led developments within the AHP and followed by HLC’s builder partners, including Housing New Zealand.

HLC and Housing New Zealand are working towards a target of building 18,000 houses in 10 years as part of the AHP. It’s a considerable undertaking that will shape the future of suburban Auckland.

The guidelines ensure that all parties involved in our AHP projects are on the same page, upholding quality and streamlining the design and approval process.

This means that HLC and our builder and developer partners can supply more well-designed homes to the Auckland market more quickly.

The guidelines also seek to facilitate social and physical connectedness, improve residents’ well-being, and encourage a sense of belonging and pride in Auckland’s emerging neighbourhoods.

Hayley Fitchett, HLC’s acting General Manager of Masterplanning and Placemaking, said the guidelines were consistent with development already underway at Hobsonville Point, Northcote, Mt Roskill, Mangere and Oranga.

Learnings from these developments, particularly Hobsonville Point, are reflected in the guidelines, particularly around the importance of balancing private and public space.

“Developing homes at greater intensity, as we are doing, requires even more focus on public space and community amenity,” Fitchett says.

This is why the design guidelines go well beyond the construction of houses and emphasise the importance of creating vibrant, healthy, connected communities.

“This is a long-term mission and Auckland needs to do a lot of work over a long time to renew its housing and infrastructure, and we want communities to be part of making this a great outcome,” Fitchett says.

Learn more about HLC’s Design Guidelines