Reclaiming Auckland streets from cars is still in the "too hard" basket.

The council design team tasked with making Auckland's downtown and suburban centres more people friendly, is to be broken up in a planned cost-cutting move.

Eight staff may lose their jobs and others may be shifted to different departments.

The proposed disbanding of the Auckland Design Office (ADO) has been called "cost-accounting at its worst" by planning committee chairman, councillor Chris Darby.

Supporters of the team's work, including the current project to remove most traffic from downtown High Street, have taken to social media, with Julie Landry tweeting it was "the closest thing to vision the council ever displayed".

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* Cars will be banned from Auckland's Queen St, and it could spread

The high-profile former head of the ADO, Ludo Campbell-Reid, left the council after 13 years in October.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Planning committee chairman Chris Darby is unhappy about plans to disband the council's design office

The proposed end of the ADO is part of an ongoing programme to scrap up to 160 council jobs, and a further 190 vacancies, with savings to be re-allocated to areas needing more staff.

The council said consultation on the proposal had begun, but that the design capability in the organisation would continue.

"This proposal does not remove that capability – rather it seeks to enhance it," said Megan Tyler, the chief of strategy, in a statement to Stuff.

Supplied/Auckland Council A "linear park" in Auckland's downtown Victoria Street is planned.

"There will always be tight constraints on how much we can increase our workforce, and this proposed change is part of the ongoing work across all the council to meet our FTE and budget targets for this financial year," she said.

Darby said while he normally kept out of staffing decisions, in this instance he "felt obliged to discuss it" with the mayor and chief executive.

"It is described as a proposal, but it seems to be a proposal with a lot of concrete around it," Darby told Stuff.

Supplied/BikeAKL "Polka dots" on Auckland's Federal Street were one initiative of the council's design office.

"Potentially as I see it, this could lead to a weakening of our focus on design, and the political desire to achieve quality design." he said.

Ironically, news of the proposed disbanding came on the eve of Thursday's planning committee meeting which is due to sign-off an update to the City Centre Masterplan, which includes transformational projects to remove or reduce traffic, and create more spaces for pedestrians and cyclists.

"The plan would probably not exist if not for the ADO, and the independent thought contained in that place," Darby said.

Twitter Supporters of the Auckland Council design team have taken to Twitter over its planned disbanding.

The latest phase of the ADO-led conversion of downtown's High Street to a largely pedestrian space is due to be opened this week, and is considered a flagship project expected to lead to other similar changes.

Darby said while part of the proposal made sense, Auckland needed a new role similar to a city architect or chief designer, to challenge and stimulate debate.

The ADO and Auckland Transport had backed a proposal he would make on Thursday, to accelerate trials to create more walking space on Queen Street, said Darby.

Transport and urban design advocates greaterauckland.org.nz have criticised the proposed disbanding.

"It's disappointing as ADO have been one of the most innovative, efficient and effective teams in the whole council family," said editor Matt Lowrie.

"It sends a message to others in the council not to rock the boat and challenge the status quo or you'll be out of a job too."

In a statement, Mayor Phil Goff highlighted the change was a proposal not a decision.

"Staff will be consulted, and councillors will give their views," said Goff.

"Urban design is a really important part of making the city a better place," he said.

The mayor said a meeting was scheduled on Friday with the chief executive and chief of strategy.