15 Oct 2018

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Councillors today approved the draft proposal to amend the District Plan in relation to the Residential Unit Overlay.

Today’s decision is another step in the process towards clarifying the policy required to support the Residential Unit Overlay in the District Plan.

The Council is working towards asking the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Dr Megan Woods, to change the District Plan, using her powers under section 71 of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act.

The proposal approved today:

  • Clarifies the policy needed to support the Residential Unit Overlay area where the risk of flooding is predominantly from future sea level rise.
  • Permits people with vacant sites (where houses have been demolished since the earthquakes) to rebuild houses of a similar size and location to what was there, without the need for a resource consent.

The draft proposal will go immediately to Environment Canterbury, Selwyn District Council, Waimakariri District Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu, along with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Regenerate Christchurch, for their feedback.

They have been asked to give their feedback within seven working days so the process can continue to progress as quickly as possible.

Assuming that their advice is provided in time, staff will bring a report to Council on 1 November seeking approval of the final proposal to be sent to the Minister and Regenerate Christchurch.

It is intended to submit the final proposal to the Minister in early November. She will invite public comments before making her decision on whether to accept or decline the proposal, and make the proposed changes to the District Plan.

Read the report here.