Building Consents update – April 2022

Changing our District Plan to prepare for growth

Population growth, housing issues including affordability, and climate change are prompting a re-think of some of Christchurch’s planning rules. 

People need places to live, places to play and easy ways to get around while still protecting the environment and values that make Christchurch such a special place to live.

We’re proposing changes to our District Plan to provide for our continued growth and prosperity.

Draft plan changes:

• Housing and Business Choice Plan Change – to bring our District Plan in line with government direction that has been given via the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) and the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and other matters) Amendment Act to enable more development in the city’s existing urban footprint.
• Heritage Plan Change – we’re proposing that 11 new residential heritage areas across the city be identified for protection in the District Plan, and adding around 65 buildings, items and building interiors to our Schedule of Significant Historic Heritage, as well as simplifying and clarifying rules for heritage. 
• Coastal Hazards Plan Change – we need to avoid increased risk of harm to people and property from coastal hazards such as flooding, tsunami and erosion.
• Radio Communication Pathways Plan Change – we need to protect airspace used for emergency radio communications by stopping development that blocks it.

These District Plan changes will affect how our city grows sustainably, how we move around, the type of housing we live in, and how we adapt and respond to climate change and coastal hazards.

We want to put houses in the right parts of our city, located close to our growing main commercial centres where there is access to services, public transport networks and infrastructure. In doing so, people can access what they need by walking, cycling and public transport, and not rely on their car. This helps us reduce emissions and is better for the environment.

Online information sessions

Due to the current Omicron outbreak, we are holding online information sessions for people wanting to find out more about the Heritage, Coastal Hazards and Housing and Business Choice plan changes.

• Vacuum sewers and other limiting infrastructure - Wednesday 20 April, 6.30pm–8pm
• Heritage & Character areas - Wednesday 27 April, 6.30pm–8pm
• Coastal hazards - Thursday 28 April, 6.30pm–8pm
• Residential intensification - Monday 2 May, 6.30pm–8pm
• Commercial intensification - Tuesday 3 May, 6.30pm–8pm

You can register for one or more of the online information sessions by emailing  engagement@ccc.govt.nz 

Can’t make these meetings?

If there is a community meeting you would like us to attend, please let us know. You can also phone any time to speak with us directly about the plan change on 03 941 6886.

Have your say

We’d like to hear your feedback on our four proposed plan changes. This will help us shape the draft changes needed to bring our District Plan in line with government direction, ahead of formal consultation before 20 August 2022.

Find out what the proposed changes mean for you and your property by checking out our interactive maps. You can enter an address to find out what zone the property is in, and what development is allowed in that zone.

You can also provide feedback on zone types and locations through our Drop a Pin web map for us to consider.

To find out more and provide feedback, click the button below.

Get in touch

For more information on Building Consents, head to our website or email DutyBCO@ccc.govt.nz or call 941 8999.