Zoning Reform Works (Even For Small & Mid Sized Cities): The Lower Hutt Evidence

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Zoning Reform Works (Even For Small & Mid Sized Cities): The Lower Hutt Evidence

A new study in the Journal of Housing Economics, "Going it alone: The impact of upzoning on housing construction in Lower Hutt" by Matthew Maltman and Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy, shows that Lower Hutt, New Zealand's aggressive upzoning reforms tripled housing construction and cut rents by 21%, providing crucial evidence for housing reformers worldwide.The big picture: Between 2016 and 2023, Lower Hutt (population 114,000) implemented an ambitious se…