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