By Anna Bensemann | Sept 03, 2021
Selwyn District Council are ready to notify a revised new District Plan in early October. While it’s not certain what this new plan will contain, we understand that the current large number of planning zones is to be reduced. No doubt this will change the zoning for parts of our urban and rural zones and may also change the minimum area you can easily subdivide your land too.
With any plan change there are winners and losers as the new rules look to impose restrictions across the newly formed zones and relax restrictions in others. Some will be able to create smaller allotments, others my find they are no longer able to subdivide easily. Once notified any person can make a submission and explain to decision makers why their land should be able to be subdivided to smaller (or larger) allotment sizes, and this needs to be backed by some robust planning reasons to be successful.
However, you may choose to utilize the existing rule structure to subdivide your property. If you have been thinking about this for a while, and you can easily subdivide, the uncertainty around district plan changes could be the stimulant that spurs you into action today.
Currently in Selwyn the primary Urban zones are Living 1 and 2 zones, although the minimum allotments for these zones vary between townships. The Living 1 at Lincoln, Leeston, Doyleston and Darfield is 650 m², 750 m² in Rolleston and 800 m² in Dunsandel, Kirwee and Prebbleton. There are lots of other zones that allow for smaller or larger section sizes in these townships. It is these variations that Council is aiming to reduce.
Each site is different and the planning rules that specifically apply such as driveway widths, setbacks from streams and the shape of new allotments will need to be addressed in any planning application seeking the subdivision of your property.
Being aware of what is possible on your site whether subdividing or building under the existing district plan is also important for understanding how the new district plan might change the future of your site. This can be useful for making a submission in support of the changes or in opposition to them. Supporting changes that benefit your land is just as important as this encourages decision makers to retain proposed changes. I have written about making submissions before and I recommend you check back issues of the Ellesmere Echo for more information. Back issues are available free online.
Although it will be a few years before any proposed district plan changes have an effect on your ability to subdivide or otherwise use your land, understanding what you can do now is an important tool for ensuring any changes fit with your expectations for your land.
The best way to know what is possible with your land under the current planning regime is to contact your favorite planning company and make an enquiry.
Articles you might be interested in
- New Indigenous Biodiversity Legislation Mandates Significant Natural Area Identification
- The importance of knowing your boundaries
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Change isn't coming, it's here!
- Councils are Increasing Residential Density, but why, who does it benefit?
- What does The Selwyn District Plan (appeals version) mean for the planning process and consent?
- A recent Baseline Group project was recognised at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards
- Your Rights as an Affected Neighbour: Navigating Development Under the RMA
- Minimum car parking requirements to be chopped
- Time's up on the RMA
- Risks to farmland in the planning framework
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- The Role of Planning in the Climate Change - Discussion for Agriculture
- RMA changes are coming, are you ready?
- Housing Growth continues in Selwyn with Legislative Support
- Tiny Home Revolution May Not Save Costs
- Boundary disputes – What are they and how can you resolve them?
- Commercial Activity in a Rural Zone – What’s the Harm?
- With increasing density, good design matters
- Housing Intensification – Not for Everyone Says CCC
- Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED)
- Minimum Car Parking Requirements to be Chopped
- How lizards might affect your new development
- Balancing Common Sense and Legal Process under the RMA: Protecting Communities and the Environment
- Navigating New Opportunities: The Importance of Land Development Planning in 2024
- Historic Heritage Challenges for Landowners
- How to navigate Rural Land Development Under the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Soils
- Confused by Environmental Legislation? You are Not Alone.
- What does a professional planner do?
- Rural Allotment Sizes set to Double
- The rise or fall of rural lifestyle blocks in the Selwyn District?
- Flood Management – An Update
- Wild Weather and Resource Consent Requirements
- How might Development Contributions affect you?
- How Tree Canopies Transform Neighbourhoods and Enhance Lives
- The Role of Planning in Land and Property Development
- Who Pays for Infrastructure in Greenfield Land Development?
- Make Your Additional Land Profitable Under the Selwyn Proposed Plan
- The Great Forestry Debate
- Is it a Wetland or Not?
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan Update
- What does an activity status mean for your land development?
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan - What next?
- Changes to Resource Management Planning Signalled in Proposed Legislation
- Is the RMA really the problem?
- Managing Wastewater in Rural Canterbury: A Guide for Property Owners
- Planning Permissions – Resource Consent or Plan Change?
- Negotiating with Neighbours Under the RMA
- Have your say on Development Projects
- Game changers for housing under the RMA
- Cross lease titles - an overview
- What to do when you inherit land
- A Practical Guide for District Plan Reviews
- Our History - How We All Play a Part in its Protection
- Rural allotment sizes set to double in West Selwyn
- Hazardous activities, land contamination and resource consent applications
- The impact of consent notices when purchasing land
- Flood Management | Changes in Selwyn
- Fundamental Culture Shift in New Zealand Planning Legislation.
- Selwyn District Council Changes Urban Allotment Sizes
- Planning Rules can Affect Property Value
- Time matters – With Resource Consent
- Land Development opportunities and times of change
- Indigenous Biodiversity: what does it mean for a farmer?
- Why we have complicated septic tank disposal rules
- Crunch Time For New Freshwater Legislation
- The dream of subdividing your land
- But that’s the way we have always done it!
- Rivers, Lakes and Coastline, Public Space for All
- Burning crop stubble on your property?
- Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes - effect on farming
- Managing Cultural Heritage Sites
- Spotlight on District Plan Provisions
- Planning land use to be resilient to natural hazards
- State highways, noise and reverse sensitivity: what’s the buzz?
- The National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-Making and its effects on Resource Consents
- The costs of subdividing hitting Selwyn | development contributions
- Who Shapes our Planning Rules?
- Good District Plan provisions save time and money
- Buildings under exemptions may still need resource consent
- Importance of Sediment Management in Land Development Projects: Simple Techniques for Effective Sediment Runoff Control