Latest news with #PlanChange14
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Decisions On Christchurch Intensification Plan
Press Release – New Zealand Government In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panels (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD), Minister … Minister for RMA Reform The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, has today released his decisions on 17 recommendations referred to him by Christchurch City Council on its Intensification Planning Instrument (Plan Change 14). 'In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panel's (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD),' Minister Bishop says. 'These recommendations were incorporated into its district plan. The Council rejected 20 of the IHP's recommendations and referred them, along with its own alternative recommendations, to me for a final decision in early 2025. 'I have carefully considered this matter and taken extensive advice from officials. The law requires that I only consider matters that the IHP could have taken into account when making its recommendations. 'I have made decisions on 17 of the 20 recommendations referred to me by the Council, which relate to a range of issues including qualifying matters, zoning and built form standards. 'Together, these decisions will enable a greater level of development in and around Christchurch City's urban centres as required by Policies 3 and 4 of the NPS-UD. 'I have not made decisions on three recommendations relating to Daresbury House, Antonio Hall and the Piko Residential Character Area. 'I intend to consider these recommendations once the Council has decided on the zoning of these areas. The Council may refer these decisions to me again ahead of deciding on the balance of Plan Change 14. 'I thank the Councillors, the Independent Hearings Panel and Council staff for the work undertaken on the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process so far.' Minister Bishop's decisions, made under Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991, are final and cannot be appealed to the Environment Court. .
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
'A kick in the guts': Minister has final say on housing density rules for Christchurch
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.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Decisions On Christchurch Intensification Plan
Minister for RMA Reform The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, has today released his decisions on 17 recommendations referred to him by Christchurch City Council on its Intensification Planning Instrument (Plan Change 14). 'In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panel's (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD),' Minister Bishop says. 'These recommendations were incorporated into its district plan. The Council rejected 20 of the IHP's recommendations and referred them, along with its own alternative recommendations, to me for a final decision in early 2025. 'I have carefully considered this matter and taken extensive advice from officials. The law requires that I only consider matters that the IHP could have taken into account when making its recommendations. 'I have made decisions on 17 of the 20 recommendations referred to me by the Council, which relate to a range of issues including qualifying matters, zoning and built form standards. 'Together, these decisions will enable a greater level of development in and around Christchurch City's urban centres as required by Policies 3 and 4 of the NPS-UD. 'I have not made decisions on three recommendations relating to Daresbury House, Antonio Hall and the Piko Residential Character Area. 'I intend to consider these recommendations once the Council has decided on the zoning of these areas. The Council may refer these decisions to me again ahead of deciding on the balance of Plan Change 14. 'I thank the Councillors, the Independent Hearings Panel and Council staff for the work undertaken on the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process so far.' Minister Bishop's decisions, made under Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991, are final and cannot be appealed to the Environment Court. A table outlining the decisions is attached here. Policies 3 and 4 of the NPS-UD are set out on page 11 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020. The Minister's decision making process is set out in Section 105, Schedule 1 of the RMA: .
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Christchurch council has until end of year to sort out housing density plan
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop has told Christchurch City Council it has until the end of this year to decide on its housing intensification rules across the city. Bishop has formally declined granting an extension to the council's current December 12, 2025, deadline for the remainder of its Housing and Business Choice Plan Change (Plan Change 14) decisions. The council had sought an extension until September 30, 2026, in light of the Government's proposed 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. Mayor Phil Mauger says the minister's reply to the council was disappointing. 'An extension from the Minister would've meant more time to weigh up whether we want to opt out of further housing intensification and, if so, to go through the proper steps to decide as a council and to apply for that with the Government. 'As it stands now, our ability to do that by December is up in the air, and we'll need to await further information from the Government's Select Committee on the Bill next month to figure out if we can still make an informed decision in time about whether or not to proceed with parts of Plan Change 14.' A staff report prepared for councillors last month said the council would not be able to evaluate its options until the modified RMA came into effect. Once in effect, the process to consider options, meet any evaluative requirements and seek the approval of the minister was certain to push beyond the current December 12, 2025, deadline, it said. 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 (NPS-UD), which require greater building development within and around the central city, suburban commercial centres, and planned high-frequency and high-capacity public transport routes. In March last year, Minister Chris Bishop approved the council's request for a time extension to parts of Plan Change 14, specifically those that relate to the Government's Medium-Density Residential Standards (MDRS) being applied beyond areas defined in the NPS-UD, meaning the Council is yet to decide what housing intensification will look like for the remainder of the city. MDRS was proposed to apply across all urban Christchurch, but the opt-out process proposed by the Government may allow the Council to limit the extent of where it applies. Under MDRS, up to three dwellings of up to three storeys can be developed on a property without needing to apply for a resource consent if all other rules have been met. Chris Bishop's letter to Christchurch City Council
