Special Amenity Area Guides (SAMs)

Located in residential neighbourhoods of Christchurch, SAMs are areas that are in some way distinctive from their surroundings and are considered to have a character worthy of retention.

SAMs have modified, or additional, rules to the standard living rules in the City Plan that recognise their special characteristics.

SAMs brochures were produced in response to concerns that not enough design guidance was available to ensure that the SAMs’ special qualities were recognized and upheld when new developments, or alterations, were proposed.

The brochures include an outline of the characteristics of the SAM, ways of designing in accordance with the character, the applicable City Plan rules and contacts for further information.