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Navigating Prior Engineering Acceptance for Urban Developments in Selwyn

By Laurie Atkinson, Planner, Baseline Group | Feb 04, 2025

If you're planning to develop in the area, it's essential to understand the new changes to the Engineering Acceptance process. The new changes require all urban multi-units, and minor residential units apply for prior engineering acceptance before applying for resource consent.

What is Engineering Acceptance?

Engineering Acceptance is the approval process used by Selwyn District Council to ensure proposed works on public infrastructure, such as roads and utilities, align with the Council's requirements and industry best practices. It helps ensure that new developments are built in a way that meets service levels, prevents negative impacts on existing infrastructure users, and aligns with Council's engineering standards.

When is Prior Engineering Acceptance Required?

Prior Engineering Acceptance is required if your development is either a multi-unit residential complex (more than one principal residential unit/principal building on a parent or resultant site) or a minor residential unit (self-contained units ancillary to a main dwelling). The requirements for what are required vary whether you are developing a multi-unit residential complex of three units or less, a multi-unit residential complex greater than three units, or a minor residential complex.

How to Apply for Engineering Acceptance

To apply for prior Engineering Acceptance, submit an application via email to development.engineer@selwyn.govt.nz with the subject line: “Prior-Engineering Acceptance application for multi-unit development [or minor residential unit].” The following documents are typically required:

  1. Flood Assessment Certificate (FAC): If one hasn’t already been issued for the site, you’ll need to apply for a FAC. This will assess the flood risks associated with your development.
  2. Engineer's Design Certificate: This is required if your works involve extending the existing infrastructure network.
  3. Design Report: A detailed report outlining the proposed works, including any earthworks, vehicle crossings, or accessways, as well as how the development complies with the Engineering Code of Practice (ECOP) and the Council’s minimum service requirements. This should also include any non-compliance issues, supporting calculations, and detailed design drawings.

For multi-unit residential complexes greater than three units you will also require:

  1. 5 Waters Infrastructure Servicing Certificate: For multi-unit developments with more than three units, this certificate confirms the capacity of existing water, wastewater, stormwater, and road networks. If you don't have this, you must apply for it before submitting your Engineering Acceptance application.

What Happens After You Apply?

Once your application is submitted, it enters a priority queue. Selwyn’s Development Engineering Team processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the growing demand, the review process can take several weeks, especially during busy periods.

If additional information or design adjustments are required, the Council engineer will issue a Request for Information (RFI). This back-and-forth may involve several rounds of revisions before a final design is agreed upon. The main change with the new process is you will not be able to apply for resource consent for multi-unit residential complexes or minor residential units until you have got engineering approval.

Receiving Engineering Acceptance

Once all conditions are met and your designs are approved, you will receive an Engineering Acceptance Letter. This letter confirms that your design complies with all necessary standards and grants permission to proceed. When you apply for resource consent, you will attach the engineering acceptance letter as an Appendix to your resource consent. If your design changes throughout the resource consent process, you will have to make amendments to your engineering approval further in the process.

Conclusion

From a developer’s perspective, the new Prior Engineering Acceptance (PEA) process in Selwyn creates a change to the development timeline. The process will result in additional documentation and potential adjustments to your design. This is by no means a tested process at present, and it will be interesting to see how the process works in practice.

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