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
- Tiny Homes and Granny Flats
- Back to Basics for the RMA Reforms
- Historic Heritage Challenges for Landowners
- Crunch Time For New Freshwater Legislation
- Fundamental Culture Shift in New Zealand Planning Legislation.
- How to navigate Rural Land Development Under the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Soils
- Councils are Increasing Residential Density, but why, who does it benefit?
- The rise or fall of rural lifestyle blocks in the Selwyn District?
- Commercial Activity in a Rural Zone – What’s the Harm?
- The Great Forestry Debate
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Planning Permissions – Resource Consent or Plan Change?
- How lizards might affect your new development
- The Role of Planning in Land and Property Development
- What does an activity status mean for your land development?
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- Buildings under exemptions may still need resource consent
- State highways, noise and reverse sensitivity: what’s the buzz?
- Negotiating with Neighbours Under the RMA
- Boundary disputes – What are they and how can you resolve them?
- Understanding Zoning and Density Rules in Selwyn
- RMA changes are coming, are you ready?
- What does your zone mean for you and your property?
- Build-to-Rent Development in New Zealand: A Rising Trend in Housing
- New Indigenous Biodiversity Legislation Mandates Significant Natural Area Identification
- A New Dawn for Granny Flats and Accessory Dwellings
- How Tree Canopies Transform Neighbourhoods and Enhance Lives
- Burning crop stubble on your property?
- The importance of knowing your boundaries
- The National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-Making and its effects on Resource Consents
- The Taking of Esplanades at the Time of Subdivision
- Land Development opportunities and times of change
- Minimum car parking requirements to be chopped
- Cross Lease Titles
- The costs of subdividing hitting Selwyn | development contributions
- Wild Weather and Resource Consent Requirements
- Understanding Land Covenants: What You Need to Know
- Spotlight on District Plan Provisions
- Planning land use to be resilient to natural hazards
- Tiny Home Revolution May Not Save Costs
- Change isn't coming, it's here!
- What does a professional planner do?
- Selwyn District Council Changes Urban Allotment Sizes
- Subdividing – The Basics
- Indigenous Biodiversity: what does it mean for a farmer?
- Navigating Prior Engineering Acceptance for Urban Developments in Selwyn
- Housing Intensification – Not for Everyone Says CCC
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan - What next?
- What to do when you inherit land
- Changes to Resource Management Planning Signalled in Proposed Legislation
- Importance of Sediment Management in Land Development Projects: Simple Techniques for Effective Sediment Runoff Control
- The impact of consent notices when purchasing land
- Make Your Additional Land Profitable Under the Selwyn Proposed Plan
- Submissions to a Resource Consent by Affected Parties
- But that’s the way we have always done it!
- Time's up on the RMA
- Housing Growth continues in Selwyn with Legislative Support
- Good District Plan provisions save time and money
- A Practical Guide for District Plan Reviews
- A recent Baseline Group project was recognised at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards
- Game changers for housing under the RMA
- Rivers, Lakes and Coastline, Public Space for All
- Risks to farmland in the planning framework
- Rural allotment sizes set to double in West Selwyn
- District Plan in Selwyn – How will it Affect You?
- Our History - How We All Play a Part in its Protection
- How might Development Contributions affect you?
- Is it a Wetland or Not?
- The Role of Planning in the Climate Change - Discussion for Agriculture
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan Update
- Have your say on Development Projects
- Is the RMA really the problem?
- Rural Allotment Sizes set to Double
- Hazardous activities, land contamination and resource consent applications
- Planning Rules can Affect Property Value
- Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED)
- Time matters – With Resource Consent
- The dream of subdividing your land
- Ensuring Compliance with Resource Management Laws
- Granny Flats to Be Allowed, Without Consent: What Homeowners Need to Know
- With increasing density, good design matters
- Why we have complicated septic tank disposal rules
- Who Shapes our Planning Rules?
- Flood Management – An Update
- Balancing Common Sense and Legal Process under the RMA: Protecting Communities and the Environment
- Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes - effect on farming
- What does The Selwyn District Plan (appeals version) mean for the planning process and consent?
- Going for housing growth, to improve housing affordability
- Flood Management | Changes in Selwyn
- Managing Cultural Heritage Sites
- Confused by Environmental Legislation? You are Not Alone.
- Who Pays for Infrastructure in Greenfield Land Development?
- Adapting to a Depreciating New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Managing Wastewater in Rural Canterbury: A Guide for Property Owners
- Navigating New Opportunities: The Importance of Land Development Planning in 2024
- Cross lease titles - an overview
- Your Rights as an Affected Neighbour: Navigating Development Under the RMA
- Managing Waterbodies on Your Property: What Landowners Need to Know
- Is planning the cause of red tape for land development?