Is policy leading to improved sustainability at the local urban scale?

Dr Sumita Ghosh and Dr Robert ValeBuilt Environments, Auckland, New ZealandEmail: GhoshS@landcareresearch.co.nz ; Email: ValeR@landcareresearch.co.nz

International Conference on Sustainability Engineering and Science (NZSSES) – Talking and Walking Sustainability, 20-23 February 2007, Auckland

Objective

• To investigate how national and regional policies influence the environmental sustainability of emerging local residential forms, especially in the Auckland Region using a case study based approach.

Urban Sustainability Policies • National - Resource Management Act 1991 - National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, 2001 - Local Government Act 2002 - New Zealand Transport Strategy, 2002 - Sustainable Development Programme of Action (NZSDPOA), 2003 - Building Act 2004 - New Zealand Urban Design Protocol, 2005

• Auckland Regional - Auckland Regional Growth Strategy 2050 (ARGS) - Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy, 2005 - Auckland Regional Affordable Housing Strategy, 2003 - District Plans, Regional Plans and Regional Policy Statements• Projects - Learning Sustainability - Low Impact Urban Design and Development (LIUDD) - Beacon Pathway Ltd - Auckland Sustainable Cities Programme (“Urban Form, Design and Development (UFDD)” and “Transport and Urban Form (TUF)”)

URBAN TAXONOMY

Local Urban Scale

Close To Inner City – High density Medium Rise Residential

Suburban – Medium density Medium Rise Mixed Residential

Suburban – Low Density Low Rise

Three Case Studies: Auckland Region

• Applications of urban design principles• Design characteristics• Subdivision layouts and open space provisions• Density of development• Potential and actual renewable energy use• Available transport options

Greenwich Park, Grafton, Auckland City Addison, Papakura District Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood, Waitakere City

Sustainable Urban Form Analysis

Greenwich Park, Grafton, Auckland • Inner city mixed-use, high-density, gated community • 85 attached two-level terraced townhouses• Site area:1.53 hectares• Dwelling density: 56 dwellings per hectare• Lot sizes: 300–350 m² ; Approximate House Size: 100 m²

Aerial photo source: Auckland City Council

• Good access to public transport buses and train • Close to shopping centres • Lack of pedestrian connectivity and vehicular traffic segregation • Open space areas along the site boundary • Subject to motorway noise

Grafton• Repetitive monotonous built forms• High fence acts as a visual barrier• Narrow strips of landscaped areas• High impervious areas

Grafton

• Effective passive solar design - north orientations of roofs;- sufficient glazing in façades - allows solar gain - available solar efficient roof (No use of solar water heater or PV modules currently)• Inadequate spaces for installation of above ground rain

tanks

Sustainability features assumed:- compact form- shared services- increased walkability to work- use of public transport

Addison, Takanini, Papakura

• Suburban “master-planned community” built on “new urbanism” principles• 1500 homes of mixed housing types• Site area of approximately 80 ha of land • Dwelling density: ranges from 16 dwellings to 23 dwellings per hectare• Lot sizes vary from 180 m² to 486 m²

Very good vehicular and pedestrian segregation • Well clustered housing around open-space areas

Site Plan source: http://www.mip.co.nz/developments/project/addison

Choice of harmonious colour schemes Street facades and vistas created in aesthetically pleasing manner Increased amenity values as located close to Bruce Pullman Park Adequately designed landscaping Modern residential environment

Addison

Comprehensive sustainability framework includes:- access to facilities- waste recycling and management- solar orientation and energy conservation- low-impact storm water management- biodiversity and planting

Addison

Earthsong, Waitakere City

Site Plan source:

http://www.earthsong.org.nz//infobook/index.html

• Medium Density eco neighbourhood with a variety of housing types• 32 homes built on the principles of permaculture and cohousing• Site area : 1.62 hectares • Dwelling density: 20 dwellings per hectare• Interactive community committed to more sustainable behaviour

Earthsong

• Buildings and neighbourhood are well integrated with the site• Informal gathering places• Edible landscaping for local food production• Dwellings along common pathways and courtyards• Car parks and carports on one side of the site• Safe, pedestrian-friendly play areas for children, pedestrian priority

Earthsong

• Sustainable design principles include: - buildings oriented north- non-toxic building materials- rainwater collection for household and garden use - on-site stormwater and wastewater treatment - low-impact urban design technology such as rain tanks, grass swales,

permeable paving, use of renewable energy (solar water heaters)

Research Outcomes• Policies could influence emerging

local-scale urban forms in varied manners generating significantly different contributions to environmental sustainability;

• Behaviour change and technology could both impact significantly on urban sustainability; behaviour is likely to make the larger change.

Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED), UK

Source: http://www.bioregional.com/

• Sustainable designs include:- roof gardens- passive solar design- a small-scale combined heat and power plant (CHP) to supply hot water- low-energy lighting- energy-efficient appliances- waste water recycling - onsite renewable energy

• Mixed-use, mixed-tenure• Largest carbon neutral eco community in UK • 82 well-insulated, affordable residential homes and offices• Encourage alternatives to car use, thereby reducing transport energy use• Zero heating design

Behaviour and Sustainability

The The TypicalTypical household household living in a conventional living in a conventional house have an house have an Ecological Footprint of Ecological Footprint of 5.4 Ha per person5.4 Ha per person

Changing the built environment reduces Ecological Footprint Changing the built environment reduces Ecological Footprint by 11%, but changing by 11%, but changing howhow we live can reduce Ecological we live can reduce Ecological Footprint by 22%. Footprint by 22%. If we do not learn to change our behaviour, there will be no point in changing our buildings.

The The KeenKeen household living household living inin BedZEDBedZED have an have an Ecological Footprint ofEcological Footprint of3.6 Ha per person3.6 Ha per person .

Future Research• Connecting sustainability research

and environmental policy is essential for successful urban sustainability policy formulation and its subsequent implementation.