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Land Supply Review

The aim of the land supply review is to ensure future residential and industrial development is properly managed. This review is the first since the District Plan was notified for submissions in 1998 and the first comprehensive review of land supply since the District Council came into being in 1989.

What's next

Stages

The land supply review was initiated in 2006. It is a three stage process:

Stage 1: Technical assessments and preparation of a discussion paper
Analysis of development rates and trends; review of current supply; forecasting for future needs; engaging with stakeholders; identification and technical analysis of broad areas of expansion land; resulting in broad options for growth.
Stage 2: Options and consultation
Consultation with the community about the broad options for growth.
Stage 3: District Plan change process
Plan change documentation, public notification, submissions and hearings.

Stages 1 and 2 are now complete. Stage 3 started in April 2008.

Stage 1
The 2006 census has confirmed that the trends of population decline experienced during the 1980s and 1990s have been reversed with a modest population increase in the past five years. Over the period 1996 to 2006 the number of dwellings has increased by 2,800 (280 per year) across the district, giving a total of 26,877 dwellings on 7 March 2006. This average reflects a period of population decline and low demand for homes (1990s) and the recent growth rates of the last five years.

The changing population patterns have also been accompanied by a restructuring within the business and industrial sectors. Increased spending power has given business the confidence to invest in new premises driving increased demand for industrial land (especially to the east of New Plymouth) and supporting a rise in land values for the first time in over a decade.

The land supply review has looked at the need for zoning further residential land in those towns which currently have residential zoning and have the potential to grow. This includes New Plymouth, Bell Block, Waitara, Inglewood, Okato, Onaero, Lepperton and Egmont Village. Oakura and Urenui were considered separately through the Coastal Strategy Structure Plans. The review has also considered the need for further industrial land in the larger towns of New Plymouth, Bell Block, Waitara and Inglewood.

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Stage 2
Land Supply discussion paper (April 2007)
This discussion paper details the process undertaken to April 2007. This includes the need for land, current availability and criteria for identifying future land.

Land Supply Discussion Paper (14 pages 306KB PDF)

Consultation Report (June 2007)
This consultation report is a summary of public comments received to the discussions paper.

Consultation Report (35 pages 4MB PDF)

Draft Framework for Growth (September 2007)
This framework for growth sets the direction for future changes to the District Plan. It follows the discussion paper published in April 2007 and builds on the comments received from landowners, stakeholders and the general public. A full summary of these comments is available in the consultation report.

Draft Framework for Growth September 2007 (21 pages 4.2MB PDF)

Submission Summary
This report summarises the submissions received to the Draft Framework for Growth which were considered at the hearing on 11 December 2007.

Land supply review submissions summary (14 pages 68KB PDF)

Council decisions

The 11 December 2007 Hearing Report on the draft Framework for Growth and the amended draft Framwork for Growth February 2008 were presented to the Policy Committee on 19 February 2008 and the full council on 4 March 2008.

Hearing report on draft Framework for Growth (54 pages 287KB PDF)
Amended draft Framework for Growth February 2008 (21 pages 1MB PDF)

On 4 March 2008 the council approved the final Framework for Growth.

Framework for Growth Final (12 pages 229KB PDF)
New Plymouth map 1 Final (One page 764KB PDF)
New Plymouth map 1 close-up Final (One page 614KB PDF)
Waitara map 4 Final (One page 667KB PDF)
Onaero map 5 Final (One page 328KB PDF)
Lepperton map 6 Final (One page 352KB PDF)
Egmont Village map 7 Final (One page 405KB PDF)
Inglewood map 8 Final (One page 548KB PDF)
Okato map 9 Final (One page 393KB PDF)

What's next?

The plan changes will be phased over 12-24 months depending on demand, complexity of the issues and other policy commitments. Some of the options will require extensive structure planning and will need a longer timeframe. The timeframes are also dependent on progress with improvements to the roading network (particularly New Plymouth and Bell Block).

Provisional prioritisation of the plan changes

Phase 1 (high priority)

Incorporate Framework for Growth into the District Plan and Plan Changes for New Plymouth / Bell Block residential land (Areas D, E, H and Q), Waitara (Area A), Inglewood (Areas A, B and C) and Oakura (Coastal Strategy Structure Plan).
Timeframe: Structure planning to start in April 2008.

Phase 2 (medium priority)

New Plymouth employment land (area N), Urenui and Onaero.
Timeframe: Structure planning to start late 2008 / early 2009.

Phase 3 (future growth areas)

Waitara (Area B) and Smart Rd structure planning (NB: will also consider the inclusion of land immediately to the south of Area N), Egmont Village and Okato.

Following the approval of a plan change, landowners will then need to submit resource consents for subdivision and ground works and undertake basic infrastructure works. On average this takes one to two years before any homes are built.

Once the subdivision is available for sale, the building consent process and house construction generally takes a further six to ten months. It is unlikely that any households will be living in the new growth areas until 2010.

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