'A kick in the guts': Minister has final say on housing density rules for Christchurch

Otago Daily Times

05-06-2025

The Government has issued its final decisions on a number of matters referred to it as part of the planning process for greater housing density in Christchurch.
Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop has given Christchurch City Council his decisions on 20 alternative recommendations put forward by the council for its Housing and Business Choice Plan Change (Plan Change 14).
Of those 20 alternative recommendations, Bishop has accepted three and deferred three, meaning the remaining 14 decisions default to the original recommendations made last year by the plan change's Independent Hearings Panel.
The decisions take immediate effect. For example, the high-density zoning for Hornby, Riccarton and Linwood will now come in line with the IHP's recommendations.
The minister also rejected the council's biggest recommendation, which sought to apply a special city-wide restriction to high-density developments, to provide greater sunlight access than is currently allowed for in Christchurch under the national Medium-Density Residential Standards (MDRS).
This was a key concern of the council given its concerns over the shading effects of development on neighbours.
Mayor Phil Mauger says the minister's response is incredibly disappointing for our city.
'In putting these decisions forward to the Government, we obviously wanted to get all of our alternative recommendations approved. So, to only have three of them get the tick is a kick in the guts.
'This plan change has been a huge undertaking for our city, and we've said right the way through that we want to get the best outcome we possibly can. This doesn't feel like the best outcome.
'To that end, we'll keep working hard as a council, and there are still major decisions yet to be made when it comes to housing density and planning across much of Christchurch, so watch this space.'
To date, the council has only made decisions on Plan Change 14 that relate to policies 3 and 4 of the Government's National Policy Statement on Urban Development, which require greater building development within and around the central city, suburban commercial centres, and planned high-frequency and high-capacity public transport routes.
Decisions have also been made on financial contributions for tree canopy cover and select other zonings.
That means the council is yet to decide what housing intensification will look like for the rest of the city, which needs to be completed by the Government's deadline of December 12 this year, along with the balance of Plan Change 14's decisions.
The Government has also proposed a Bill to modify the Resource Management Act to allow councils to withdraw undecided parts of Intensification Planning Instruments, such as Plan Change 14.
That Bill is expected to become law in August and may allow the Council to limit the extent of where MDRS – which allows up to three dwellings of up to three storeys to be developed without resource consent – applies across the city.
The council is waiting on further information from the Government's Select Committee on the Bill, which is expected to come later this month.
Read the minister's letter here Plan Change 14 alternative recommendations
Accepted:
An increased building height overlay (to 36m) for the former Stockyards salesyards at 25 Deans Avenue
Aligning the High Density Residential zoning for 231 Milton Street and 12 Johnson Street to parcel boundaries
Local Centre Intensification Precinct around 8 of the commercial centres across the city e.g. Barrington, Prestons, Wigram.
Rejected:
Limiting High Density residential zoning around Riccarton, Hornby and Linwood, including any modification of associated height controls
Restricting the commercial Town Centre Zone building height and any other modification of standards for Hornby and Linwood
Not applying Medium Density Residential zone around the Peer Street Local Centre
Changing the zoning for 20 Deans Avenue from Residential Medium Density to Mixed Use zone
Greater consideration of Papanui War Memorial Avenues
Applying the City Spine qualifying matter
Sunlight access qualifying matter
Riccarton Bush Interface Area qualifying matter
Decreasing the threshold of consent within the Airport Noise Influence Area and removal of the a clause requiring notification clause to Christchurch International Airport.
Deferred:
Removal of the heritage listing and setting for Antonio Hall (265 Riccarton Road) and Daresbury House
Removal of Piko Residential Character Area qualifying matter
The Minister will make decisions on the council's remaining three alternative recommendations – related to Daresbury House, Antonio Hall, and the Piko Residential Character Area – after the balance of Plan Change 14 has been decided by the council.