Planning for a new urban development area at Te Tumu will begin in the current financial year with the commencement of structure planning and re-zoning, the city council Strategy and Policy Committee recommended this week.

The Te Tumu land in Papamoa East is expected to provide homes for between eight or 14,000 people, depending on how many homes it is decided to build there. Decisions on how many houses will be built at Te Tumu is part of the structure planning process.

Te Tumu land.

'The standalone type of housing as would be delivered in Te Tumu and similar developments around the city, is not the only response to our urban growth demands,” says city council planning manager Michael Tucker.

'As Tauranga grows and changes, there are a greater proportion of people demanding a mix of housing types, but notably less standalone dwellings on large sections.”

Studies on housing preferences show people are willing to ‘trade off' larger houses and sections for more compact forms of housing that are closer to facilities, schools, employment, shopping and entertainment – a ‘Compact City', says Michael.

The Te Tumu urban growth area is set for planned development after 2021. The committee made the decision to proceed on staff recommendations and on the findings in the Te Tumu Strategic Planning Study.

The Te Tumu land lies between the eastern end of Papamoa Beach Road and the Kaituna River mouth. The southern border of the block is bordered by the river.