Tauranga City will soon have the power to recommend special housing areas to the Government after being identified as a priority city for the development of a Housing Accord.

Tauranga City Council is currently working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on fine tuning the details under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013.

In a statement today, council reveal it is anticipated the accord will be signed by council and Minister of Housing Nick Smith in August 2014.

Once signed, council will have the ability to recommend Special Housing Areas to Nick.

Special Housing Areas are areas where the more permissive resource consenting powers of the Act can be used and development of new sites and homes in these areas will be 'fast-tracked' through the consenting process.

Mayor Stuart Crosby says the accord will enable council to speed up the consenting process for areas where there is a clear demand for housing and there is already suitable infrastructure in place.

'The intent of the Accord is to increase the number of new sites and dwellings, and make housing more accessible and affordable in Tauranga,” says Stuart.

The community is invited to give its views on the Tauranga Housing Accord by emailing haveyoursay@tauranga.govt.nz by August 1.

For further information click visit www.tauranga.govt.nz