Assessing the relationship between the sustainability of urban form and transport in Aotearoa New Zealand
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2024
Subject Area
land use - planning, land use - urban density, land use - urban sprawl, literature review - literature review, place - australasia, place - urban, planning - integration, planning - methods, policy - environment, policy - sustainable
Keywords
behaviour change, housing, housing preferences, integrated planning, residential density, transport, travel preferences, urban development, urban form
Abstract
Integrated transport and land-use planning is recognised as important in creating an urban environment that achieves broader social, economic and environmental outcomes. While international studies have demonstrated these benefits, the necessary pre-conditions required to achieve them in Aotearoa New Zealand are not well understood. This research aims to address this knowledge gap and enhance the industry’s understanding of the relationship between the sustainability of urban form and transport in New Zealand. Research methods used include: • a literature review of the impacts of urban form on transport outcomes • eight targeted interviews with key stakeholders and practitioners involved in integrated transport and land-use planning in New Zealand • 135 online FranklyAI conversations with the general public about their housing and transport preferences • exploring a methodology and concept design for a tool that can quantify the relationship between transport emissions and regional spatial plans/changes in urban form.
We found that integrated transport and land-use planning is likely to have the greatest impact on transport emissions reductions and other sustainable transport outcomes in New Zealand when combined with comprehensive public transport systems and attractive active mode environments to reduce vehicle kilometres travelled. We also identified the importance of a coordinated, systems and place-based approach to integrated transport and land-use planning in New Zealand that acknowledges the unique characteristics and challenges of places. The identified pre-conditions for successful transport and land-use integration in New Zealand relate to four interconnected themes: • Transport infrastructure, services, attitudes and preferences. • Housing market, attitudes and preferences. • Social infrastructure and local amenities. • Legislation, regulations, funding and operations.
These pre-conditions are indicative and require further investigation and testing. Based on the findings of this research, we made a number of high-level recommendations on next steps for transport agencies (NZTA and local government planners and funders) to help achieve the pre-conditions required for successful integrated planning of transport and urban form in New Zealand. These are organised under four key action areas intended to help guide and inspire transport agencies to define and develop their role in integrated transport and land-use planning – influence, leadership, collaboration and facilitation. We acknowledge that NZTA and local government do not have the levers to directly influence a lot of the pre-conditions identified in this research. However, to create change, they can indirectly influence a lot of the pre-conditions through the levers of advocacy, leadership and working with other public sector agencies such as Kāinga Ora and neighbouring local authorities. NZTA and local government can also seek to improve the existing systems and frameworks that they work within and investigate the identified pre-conditions further through additional research.
Rights
Permission to publish the abstract has been given by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), copyright remains with them.
Recommended Citation
Lee, C., Li, V., Stringer, K., Goodall, D., Wingham, A., Hafoka, J., Sharp, M., Te Tana, M., & Khoo, J. (2024). Assessing the relationship between the sustainability of urban form and transport in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi research report 726).
