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
- The rise or fall of rural lifestyle blocks in the Selwyn District?
- The dream of subdividing your land
- Planning Permissions – Resource Consent or Plan Change?
- With increasing density, good design matters
- Build-to-Rent Development in New Zealand: A Rising Trend in Housing
- Going for housing growth, to improve housing affordability
- How might Development Contributions affect you?
- Flood Management | Changes in Selwyn
- Managing Waterbodies on Your Property: What Landowners Need to Know
- Managing Cultural Heritage Sites
- Hazardous activities, land contamination and resource consent applications
- Crunch Time For New Freshwater Legislation
- Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes - effect on farming
- What does a professional planner do?
- Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED)
- Back to Basics for the RMA Reforms
- Boundary disputes – What are they and how can you resolve them?
- Councils are Increasing Residential Density, but why, who does it benefit?
- What does an activity status mean for your land development?
- How to navigate Rural Land Development Under the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Soils
- The impact of consent notices when purchasing land
- What does The Selwyn District Plan (appeals version) mean for the planning process and consent?
- Navigating Prior Engineering Acceptance for Urban Developments in Selwyn
- Minimum car parking requirements to be chopped
- The National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-Making and its effects on Resource Consents
- Spotlight on District Plan Provisions
- Confused by Environmental Legislation? You are Not Alone.
- Is planning the cause of red tape for land development?
- The costs of subdividing hitting Selwyn | development contributions
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan - What next?
- Who Shapes our Planning Rules?
- Is the RMA really the problem?
- Have your say on Development Projects
- Submissions to a Resource Consent by Affected Parties
- Time's up on the RMA
- Time matters – With Resource Consent
- Who Pays for Infrastructure in Greenfield Land Development?
- Tiny Home Revolution May Not Save Costs
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- State highways, noise and reverse sensitivity: what’s the buzz?
- Planning Rules can Affect Property Value
- Commercial Activity in a Rural Zone – What’s the Harm?
- Minimum Car Parking Requirements to be Chopped
- Our History - How We All Play a Part in its Protection
- The Taking of Esplanades at the Time of Subdivision
- Rural Allotment Sizes set to Double
- The Great Forestry Debate
- Buildings under exemptions may still need resource consent
- What to do when you inherit land
- RMA changes are coming, are you ready?
- A Practical Guide for District Plan Reviews
- Burning crop stubble on your property?
- Change isn't coming, it's here!
- Wild Weather and Resource Consent Requirements
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Managing Wastewater in Rural Canterbury: A Guide for Property Owners
- Navigating New Opportunities: The Importance of Land Development Planning in 2024
- Your Rights as an Affected Neighbour: Navigating Development Under the RMA
- Game changers for housing under the RMA
- Cross lease titles - an overview
- Selwyn District Council Changes Urban Allotment Sizes
- Fundamental Culture Shift in New Zealand Planning Legislation.
- Why we have complicated septic tank disposal rules
- Rivers, Lakes and Coastline, Public Space for All
- A New Dawn for Granny Flats and Accessory Dwellings
- Balancing Common Sense and Legal Process under the RMA: Protecting Communities and the Environment
- New Indigenous Biodiversity Legislation Mandates Significant Natural Area Identification
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan Update
- But that’s the way we have always done it!
- Historic Heritage Challenges for Landowners
- Cross Lease Titles
- Good District Plan provisions save time and money
- Ensuring Compliance with Resource Management Laws
- Subdividing – The Basics
- Indigenous Biodiversity: what does it mean for a farmer?
- Is it a Wetland or Not?
- Understanding Land Covenants: What You Need to Know
- The Role of Planning in Land and Property Development
- Negotiating with Neighbours Under the RMA
- Risks to farmland in the planning framework
- The Role of Planning in the Climate Change - Discussion for Agriculture
- Understanding Zoning and Density Rules in Selwyn
- How Tree Canopies Transform Neighbourhoods and Enhance Lives
- Flood Management – An Update
- Land Development opportunities and times of change
- Changes to Resource Management Planning Signalled in Proposed Legislation
- Rural allotment sizes set to double in West Selwyn
- The importance of knowing your boundaries
- Make Your Additional Land Profitable Under the Selwyn Proposed Plan
- Housing Intensification – Not for Everyone Says CCC
- Importance of Sediment Management in Land Development Projects: Simple Techniques for Effective Sediment Runoff Control
- A recent Baseline Group project was recognised at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards
- Housing Growth continues in Selwyn with Legislative Support
- How lizards might affect your new development
- Planning land use to be resilient to natural hazards
- What does your zone mean for you and your property?
- Tiny Homes and Granny Flats