Takapuna Streets for People

Huron and Northcroft street improvements - Takapuna

Road and footpath painting on Northcroft Street

December 2021 update

Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback in the Takapuna Streets for People consultation. The online survey is now closed.

Community feedback and observations from the trial will feed into a long-term design solution for these streets, ensuring the design includes the things that are important to the Takapuna community.

We look forward to sharing updates about the longer-term design concept in 2022.

September 2021 update

The project team has reviewed the community’s feedback on the trial to date and has progressed some ideas to respond to this. This feedback was collected through the online survey, meetings and conversations with the local community, and on-site observations.

The changes that will be implemented to the trial are aimed at addressing feedback received around the loss of car parking and the road and footpath painting. They will enable us to test and monitor a few new design options while we are moving through covid alert levels.

The trial response includes:

• Reinstating up to five parallel car parks on Huron Street and removing picnic tables following consultation with local businesses
• Removing road art on Huron and Northcroft streets
• Installing a pram crossing / refuge island on Lake Road
• Reducing the footpath painting on Huron and Northcroft streets in front of The Sentinel plaza
• Modifying the painting pattern on the planters on Northcroft street (stripes to be reduced).

The contractor will be onsite from 28 September 2021. This work is expected to take 2-3 weeks to complete (weather dependent).

We are asking the community to continue providing feedback through the next phase via the online survey below.

Testing new street layouts to make them more welcoming for people

Takapuna’s Huron and Northcroft streets have long been viewed as windy streets that are unpleasant for people. They are also on a critical walking route between the new car park building, Toka Puia, and the future Takapuna town square.

We’re working with the community to try out some new ideas on these streets from June 2021 to make them more people-friendly, safe and accessible to everyone.

The ideas came from a series of co-design sessions with the local community in late 2020.

Consultation by trial

The project consultation phase is now underway. We are following a ‘consultation by trial’ approach where the community can interact with the temporary changes in real time to see what’s working to make the streets safer and more enjoyable for people.

The trial is only temporary – whether the changes become long-term depends on the success of the trial against project objectives and feedback from the community.

However you travel, it’s a great opportunity to be part of shaping Takapuna for the future.

The trial is only temporary. Let us know what you think. Queries and feedback options are listed below.

What are the temporary changes?

Pedestrian safety, slower vehicle speeds, wider and more even footpaths, improvements managing bus traffic and better-designed parking were some of the key issues and opportunities raised when designing improvements to Huron and Northcroft streets.

As a result, the trial design includes:

• Speed cushions to slow traffic
• New pedestrian island on Lake Road
• New median strip on Northcroft Street to make it easier for people crossing the street
• New traffic island on Northcroft Street to slow traffic
• Widening the footpath on Huron Street to make it easier for people crossing the street
• Two new mobility parks on Northcroft Street
• Decorative planter boxes
• Creation of wind and rain shelters along Huron Street
• Colourful painting on the road and pavement.

The trial will not affect the bus routes, frequency of buses, or bus layover spaces.

Preview of temporary trial elements on Huron Street. View the full plan for both Huron and Northcroft streets here.

When and where are the changes happening?

The installation will commence from Sunday 13 June (weather permitting) on the sections of Huron Street and Northcroft Street between Auburn Street and Lake Road.

The works will be carried out during the night to prevent disruption to people, businesses and traffic during the day. Standard work hours are Sunday to Thursday, 8pm to 4.30am.

The works are expected to take up to 20 days to complete (weather permitting) and will be completed in stages across both streets.

What do you think about the temporary changes?

The temporary changes will be trialled through June and July 2021. During this time, the feedback of the community will be captured and considered as part of the review process to assess a long-term design solution for these streets. Let us know your feedback on the temporary changes by filling in the survey form below.

What has happened to date?

In late 2020 we met with surrounding businesses and residents of Huron and Northcroft streets. A co-design drop-in session in November was visited by 18 members of the local community, while a similar session with residents of a nearby apartment building attracted 20 people. Further feedback was gathered through methods including door knocking, flyer drop, emails and phone calls.

During these conversations, we identified a number of issues and concerns that the local community would like to see prioritised in any design improvements.

Pedestrian safety, slower vehicle speeds, wider and more even footpaths, improvements managing bus traffic and better-designed parking were some of the key issues and opportunities raised when designing improvements to Huron and Northcroft streets.

The ideas and experiences shared for these streets and their immediate surroundings helped us develop some initial ideas that we shared with the local community in February and March 2021.

This process led to refinements in the design which will be further tested with the wider community over the coming months.

The trial is a great opportunity for the local community to help shape the long-term design of the Takapuna town centre.