By Anna Bensemann | Sept 06, 2021
Selwyn District Council notified the new Selwyn District Plan in early October with a wide range of changes to the planning provisions that apply across the district. One big change in the new look district plan is that it will increase the minimum allotment size for rural subdivisions in the western part of the Selwyn District.
Currently the Outer Plains zone applies to most of rural Selwyn west of Sandy Knolls, Rolleston and Lincoln, with the Inner Plains zone making up the rural land east of these areas closest to Christchurch City. The Outer Plains Zone has a minimum allotment size of 20 ha meaning you need at least 40 ha to create two allotments. The Inner Plains has a minimum allotment size of 4 ha meaning you needed 8 ha to create two allotments. While a more complicated resource consent could be applied for to go smaller, these minimum sizes were the general expectation for these areas.
Under the proposed Selwyn District Plan the Inner Plains area is still provided for with a minimum allotment size remaining at 4 ha, but a new Eastern Plains/ Western Plains division has been proposed. Those in the Western Plains are now proposed to be subject to a 40 ha minimum allotment size. While creating new lots under 40 ha will be possible under this new rule framework, the plan signals that anything less than the minimum will be met with strong resistance from Council and can be declined.
The Proposed Selwyn District Plan is open now for submissions until 11 December 2020. This short time frame gives little opportunity to fully understand the implications of changes to the planning provisions within the district. Council Plan decision makers will consider the submissions received in 2021 with the outcome of that resulting in provisions becoming operative. Those who might want to subdivide in the next ten years and could be affected by the new provisions should consider making a submission now. If no submissions on the proposed provisions are received, the provisions will be adopted in their current form with minimum allotment sizes in the western part of the district set to double in size.
So, if you own rural property in the western plains of the Selwyn District including around Sheffield, Glentunnel, Hororata, Dunsandel, or south to Rakaia Huts then you will be affected by the proposed rule changes.
The proposed rule changes will not come into effect until after submissions have been received and decision makers release their decisions. This could be a few years away as experienced in other districts, or it could be early next year. Alternatively, you could aim to beat the potential 40 ha minimum allotment size rules becoming operative and subdivide to the current 20 ha limits now in the western plains area or, if you want to go even smaller, now is the time to push for that resource consent to go below the minimum allotment size before the minimum gets a lot bigger.
Articles you might be interested in
- Crunch Time For New Freshwater Legislation
- Our History - How We All Play a Part in its Protection
- Flood Management – An Update
- What to do when you inherit land
- Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED)
- How Tree Canopies Transform Neighbourhoods and Enhance Lives
- Cross Lease Titles
- What does a professional planner do?
- Subdividing – The Basics
- But that’s the way we have always done it!
- RMA changes are coming, are you ready?
- Change isn't coming, it's here!
- Who Shapes our Planning Rules?
- With increasing density, good design matters
- Navigating Prior Engineering Acceptance for Urban Developments in Selwyn
- The Taking of Esplanades at the Time of Subdivision
- What does your zone mean for you and your property?
- Managing Cultural Heritage Sites
- Planning land use to be resilient to natural hazards
- Balancing Common Sense and Legal Process under the RMA: Protecting Communities and the Environment
- A Practical Guide for District Plan Reviews
- Submissions to a Resource Consent by Affected Parties
- What does The Selwyn District Plan (appeals version) mean for the planning process and consent?
- Who Pays for Infrastructure in Greenfield Land Development?
- Housing Growth continues in Selwyn with Legislative Support
- Negotiating with Neighbours Under the RMA
- Wild Weather and Resource Consent Requirements
- Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes - effect on farming
- Game changers for housing under the RMA
- The National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision-Making and its effects on Resource Consents
- Burning crop stubble on your property?
- Is the RMA really the problem?
- Flood Management | Changes in Selwyn
- Back to Basics for the RMA Reforms
- Commercial Activity in a Rural Zone – What’s the Harm?
- How lizards might affect your new development
- Understanding Zoning and Density Rules in Selwyn
- Going for housing growth, to improve housing affordability
- Why we have complicated septic tank disposal rules
- 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
- What does an activity status mean for your land development?
- The importance of knowing your boundaries
- Is it a Wetland or Not?
- Selwyn District Council Changes Urban Allotment Sizes
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan Update
- Indigenous Biodiversity: what does it mean for a farmer?
- Rural allotment sizes set to double in West Selwyn
- Time's up on the RMA
- Historic Heritage Challenges for Landowners
- The impact of consent notices when purchasing land
- Buildings under exemptions may still need resource consent
- Hazardous activities, land contamination and resource consent applications
- Land Development opportunities and times of change
- The Role of Planning in Land and Property Development
- District Plan in Selwyn – How will it Affect You?
- Minimum car parking requirements to be chopped
- Managing Wastewater in Rural Canterbury: A Guide for Property Owners
- Proposed Selwyn District Plan - What next?
- Changes to Resource Management Planning Signalled in Proposed Legislation
- Confused by Environmental Legislation? You are Not Alone.
- Risks to farmland in the planning framework
- Spotlight on District Plan Provisions
- The dream of subdividing your land
- State highways, noise and reverse sensitivity: what’s the buzz?
- The costs of subdividing hitting Selwyn | development contributions
- Councils are Increasing Residential Density, but why, who does it benefit?
- Fundamental Culture Shift in New Zealand Planning Legislation.
- Your Rights as an Affected Neighbour: Navigating Development Under the RMA
- Ensuring Compliance with Resource Management Laws
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- The Great Forestry Debate
- Highly Productive Soils – Big Picture Thinking vs Private Landowners Needs
- How might Development Contributions affect you?
- Housing Intensification – Not for Everyone Says CCC
- How to navigate Rural Land Development Under the National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Soils
- A New Dawn for Granny Flats and Accessory Dwellings
- Tiny Home Revolution May Not Save Costs
- Boundary disputes – What are they and how can you resolve them?
- Time matters – With Resource Consent
- Have your say on Development Projects
- Good District Plan provisions save time and money
- Tiny Homes and Granny Flats
- Planning Permissions – Resource Consent or Plan Change?
- Rivers, Lakes and Coastline, Public Space for All
- Planning Rules can Affect Property Value
- New Indigenous Biodiversity Legislation Mandates Significant Natural Area Identification
- The rise or fall of rural lifestyle blocks in the Selwyn District?
- Minimum Car Parking Requirements to be Chopped
- Navigating New Opportunities: The Importance of Land Development Planning in 2024
- Build-to-Rent Development in New Zealand: A Rising Trend in Housing
- The Role of Planning in the Climate Change - Discussion for Agriculture
- Cross lease titles - an overview
- A recent Baseline Group project was recognised at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards