TBBA - Takapuna Beach Business Association

The North Shore City Council has withdrawn the District Plan rules that required cash payments where businesses could not satisfy car parking standards.

Plan Change 11, known as the 'cash in lieu of parking' rule, enabled cash payments to Council by developers or business operators who did not comply with onsite parking rules in town centres.

The cash was used by Council to develop public off-street parking spaces to offset the lack of parking by businesses or new developments. The 'cash in lieu' rule extended a form of regulation first established under the Local Government Act 1974.

The TBBA is fully supportive of the withdrawal of Plan Change 11. A common complaint that we have had from landlords and Real Estate agents is that we have lost very good businesses from Takapuna Beach due to the parking requirements or the cash in lieu payments should these requirements not be met.

Whilst well aware of the need to have a parking policy and the fact that the NZ public still wanted to drive up to the door of their destination, the withdrawal of Plan Change 11 allows a level of discretion by Council Officers to consider other mitigating factors - good public transport, shared use of carparks (especially in the hospitality sector when carparks traditionally full for day users are left vacant and available at night), the impact of intensification in a town centre whereby more people are encouraged to work and live (thereby decreasing the reliance on a motor vehicle) and the possibility of carparks in mixed use buildings (retail at ground level, commercial above and residential on top) used by residents being shared by shoppers during the day.

There has certainly been a more collaborative approach between senior management at Council since the withdrawal of Plan Change 11. Officers have sat down with landlords and their prospective tentants to try and work through parking issues rather than insist on the payment of up to $15,000 per car park. The effect of this is very evident with over 50 new businesses establishing themselves in Takapuna Beach in the last few months.

Takapuna Beach is a stunning option to establish a business. The close proximity to the Auckland CBD, the strong demographics of the catchment area, the rapid increase of marquee "brand" retailers establishing themselves in the town centre, the strong clusters in Fashion, Hospitality and entertainment, Hair and Beauty and Children's retail and most importantly the best urban beach on the doorstep, allowing staff and customers alike the opportunity for quality time out have all been enhanced by removing the significant advantage other Auckland regional town centres had over us in not charging a cash in lieu of parking.