Studies, trials and focus group workshops
The Urban Amenity Project aimed to develop processes and techniques for councils to use when defining, managing, and monitoring urban amenity. Its work included:
- Research and workshops by the Urban Amenity Focus Group
- Case studies of methods used by councils to manage urban amenity
- Project trials by councils testing new ideas and techniques
- A survey of councils around New Zealand
- Regular publications on urban amenity and indicator development.
Urban Amenity Focus Group
The Ministry for the Environment established the Urban Amenity Focus Group in March 2000 to assist with the Urban Amenity Project. The Focus Group consisted of eleven practitioners with a wide range of experience in planning, urban design, and sustainable development. The Focus Group did a lot of work on the Urban Amenity Project trials.
Case studies
Four city and district councils around New Zealand took part in case studies that investigated how councils currently define, manage, and monitor urban amenity. The Project used these case studies to develop useful tools and templates.
Project trials
Between October 2000 and February 2001, four city and district councils took part in project trials that tested the ideas developed by the Urban Amenity Project. The Project used these trials to test and evaluate different approaches, and to establish a set of ‘best practice’ techniques.
Survey
The Project surveyed 86 local authorities about urban amenity and plan monitoring. Information received from the 54 councils who responded showed that:
- most councils defined urban amenity in a general way, rather than defining what it meant to their community
- most councils only used district plan provisions to monitor urban amenity, and didn’t monitor the intangible aspects of urban amenity—the way people perceived and felt about their environment.
Publications
The Project regularly published technical reports that covered its work in detail, and a final guide that drew together all its research. You can download these publications from this site, or request copies from the Ministry for the Environment.
Case studies and project trials
