By Anna Bensemann | Sept 02, 2021
Car parking requirements for new urban developments are due to be on the chopping block within 18 months under new planning provisions. All district councils are required to remove any objective, policy, rule or method that imposes a minimum carparking requirement in accordance with the Governments Urban Development National Policy statement.
This will see a move away from the standard two carparks per residential dwelling typically seen in urban zones and enable more land to be available for housing in medium density developments. It will also free up land occupied by manoeuvring areas when vehicles are not allowed to reverse onto a street.
It is possible that councils determined to impose carparking minimums will find creative ways to effectively require onsite carparks. This could be through discounted development contributions when carparks are provided, or by considering the effect on traffic where any carparks are not provided but a resource consent is required.
In our larger well-connected cities and towns with good pedestrian and cycle networks and accessible public transport systems, reliance on cars is dwindling. The housing market demand for smaller sections and reduced carparking is generally accepted in these aeras.
The restrictions are being removed in a broad brush manner to all districts that contain “urban environments”, and the removal of car parking requirements will not just be limited to residential activities. Shops, theatres, preschools, schools, businesses, supermarkets and big box retail outlets like Kmart and Mitre 10 will no longer have regulated carparking requirements.
So, where space is at a premium the provision of carparking could be slashed. Not providing carparking in some instances would be economic suicide for businesses, especially supermarkets, big box retail outlets and the like who usually provide more than minimum requirements anyway, but individual project developers will be able to determine the required minimum amount to meet actual demand.
It’s going to be interesting going forward to watch new developments and see what developers think we need in the way of carparks. No doubt there will be instances where they get it wrong and those will be problematic legacies. However, we can only but hope those developing most of our new retail outlets are aware of actual demand and will aim to have a good level of service to meet their customer’s needs.
The National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS) is aimed at promoting and managing development for the next 30 years and car parking limits is only one tool targeted to assist development. It is perhaps the most direct and tangible provision in the NPS that will either be the great success story of the market led development or a prime example of what not to do to make successful developments in our urban environments.
Articles you might be interested in
- Your Rights as an Affected Neighbour: Navigating Development Under the RMA
- Tiny Home Revolution May Not Save Costs
- A recent Baseline Group project was recognised at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards
- Change isn't coming, it's here!
- Historic Heritage Challenges for Landowners
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- RMA changes are coming, are you ready?
- Planning land use to be resilient to natural hazards
- Importance of Sediment Management in Land Development Projects: Simple Techniques for Effective Sediment Runoff Control
- What to do when you inherit land
- Going for housing growth, to improve housing affordability
- The National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-Making and its effects on Resource Consents
- Negotiating with Neighbours Under the RMA
- How might Development Contributions affect you?
- Game changers for housing under the RMA
- Make Your Additional Land Profitable Under the Selwyn Proposed Plan
- Build-to-Rent Development in New Zealand: A Rising Trend in Housing
- How to navigate Rural Land Development Under the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Soils
- Subdividing – The Basics
- New Indigenous Biodiversity Legislation Mandates Significant Natural Area Identification
- The rise or fall of rural lifestyle blocks in the Selwyn District?
- Councils are Increasing Residential Density, but why, who does it benefit?
- With increasing density, good design matters
- How Tree Canopies Transform Neighbourhoods and Enhance Lives
- The Role of Planning in the Climate Change - Discussion for Agriculture
- Flood Management | Changes in Selwyn
- Indigenous Biodiversity: what does it mean for a farmer?
- Submissions to a Resource Consent by Affected Parties
- Planning Permissions – Resource Consent or Plan Change?
- Selwyn District Council Changes Urban Allotment Sizes
- Navigating Prior Engineering Acceptance for Urban Developments in Selwyn
- A New Dawn for Granny Flats and Accessory Dwellings
- Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes - effect on farming
- Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED)
- Time's up on the RMA
- Cross Lease Titles
- District Plan in Selwyn – How will it Affect You?
- Wild Weather and Resource Consent Requirements
- The Taking of Esplanades at the Time of Subdivision
- The Role of Planning in Land and Property Development
- Is the RMA really the problem?
- The costs of subdividing hitting Selwyn | development contributions
- Minimum car parking requirements to be chopped
- Balancing Common Sense and Legal Process under the RMA: Protecting Communities and the Environment
- Hazardous activities, land contamination and resource consent applications
- Is it a Wetland or Not?
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan - What next?
- Planning Rules can Affect Property Value
- The importance of knowing your boundaries
- Cross lease titles - an overview
- Fundamental Culture Shift in New Zealand Planning Legislation.
- Who Shapes our Planning Rules?
- Changes to Resource Management Planning Signalled in Proposed Legislation
- What does your zone mean for you and your property?
- Who Pays for Infrastructure in Greenfield Land Development?
- A Practical Guide for District Plan Reviews
- Time matters – With Resource Consent
- Buildings under exemptions may still need resource consent
- Good District Plan provisions save time and money
- Rural allotment sizes set to double in West Selwyn
- Our History - How We All Play a Part in its Protection
- Land Development opportunities and times of change
- The Great Forestry Debate
- But that’s the way we have always done it!
- What does The Selwyn District Plan (appeals version) mean for the planning process and consent?
- Crunch Time For New Freshwater Legislation
- Rivers, Lakes and Coastline, Public Space for All
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Tiny Homes and Granny Flats
- Commercial Activity in a Rural Zone – What’s the Harm?
- Back to Basics for the RMA Reforms
- Managing Wastewater in Rural Canterbury: A Guide for Property Owners
- Housing Growth continues in Selwyn with Legislative Support
- Understanding Zoning and Density Rules in Selwyn
- Confused by Environmental Legislation? You are Not Alone.
- Boundary disputes – What are they and how can you resolve them?
- The dream of subdividing your land
- What does a professional planner do?
- Burning crop stubble on your property?
- Navigating New Opportunities: The Importance of Land Development Planning in 2024
- Why we have complicated septic tank disposal rules
- How lizards might affect your new development
- Flood Management – An Update
- What does an activity status mean for your land development?
- Risks to farmland in the planning framework
- The impact of consent notices when purchasing land
- Have your say on Development Projects
- State highways, noise and reverse sensitivity: what’s the buzz?
- Rural Allotment Sizes set to Double
- Housing Intensification – Not for Everyone Says CCC
- Ensuring Compliance with Resource Management Laws
- Spotlight on District Plan Provisions
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan Update
- Managing Cultural Heritage Sites