Providing lifestyles for people in rural areas and enabling them to be close to work places, is a competitive advantage of the Wellington region. However, environmental impacts must be taken into account when developing new rural blocks.

One of the main WRS actions on urban design is a review of subdivision design guides and Codes of Practice for Subdivision and Land Development around the region. The aim of this was to identify the range of approaches, explore the possibility of achieving greater consistency across the different councils and to recommend best practice options.

WHO’S INVOLVED?

The project has been led by Kapiti Coast District Council on behalf of all the councils in the region.

WHAT’S HAPPENED?

Last year a stocktake was undertaken to identify variations across the region in the use of subdivision design guides and codes, the general strategic direction across the region around subdivision design and linkages to urban design principles. Research was undertaken in the three areas and assessed against their fit with WRS principles. A report was then presented to the Chief Executives Group.

Key recommendations coming out of the report include:

  • Affirm that councils are committed to sustainable development and low impact design.
  • Adopt NZS 4404 as the base code of practice for their land development and subdivision activities.
  • Revise their existing codes of practice using NZS 4404 provisions as a base but with minimum possible technical amendments and additions to cover local conditions.  However, expand the scope of the codes to include design principles and links to strategic plans, asset management plans and Long Term Plans so that these can be given some regulatory effect.
  • Give the codes regulatory effect under their District Plans.
  • Have engineers involved in a land development and subdivision works network, and meet regularly to discuss and resolve common issues.

 

Subsequent to this report, a regional submission was generated on the proposed amendments to the national standard around subdivisions (NZS 4404). A report was written which recommended that there be greater alignment between the councils regarding controls around subdivisions.