Growth of Low Impact Design in the Auckland Region (New Zealand) through an Innovative Grants Programme

The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) is piloting a programme that awards Innovative Grants to land developers to include Low Impact Design (LID) into land development. The intention of the grants is to ensure the inclusion of LID early in the design phase, allow the ARC to participate in the design and option selection process, identify issues with implementing LID, and develop demonstration projects and case studies in the Auckland region illustrating how LID can be applied. Case studies will help increase capability in the design and development industry, in turn leading to improvement in LID uptake and improving the understanding of LID by Regional and Territorial Authorities (local governments) staff and developers. Seven grants were awarded with different LID methods applied. Initial outcomes indicate positive results, demonstrating that a LID Innovative Grant programme can succeed in increasing the awareness and uptake of LID within the Auckland region.