Urban Development: Multi-units and Minor Residential Units
New Process for Urban Development: Multi-units and Minor Residential Units
Prior servicing confirmation now required for Building Consents and Resource Consents
Urban is this context means land that is zoned for residential, commercial/mixed use or industrial purposes in the Partially Operative Selwyn District Plan (the District Plan).
Multi-unit in this context means more than one principal residential unit/principal building on a parent or resultant site in the residential, commercial and industrial zones.
This is the common form of development in the Medium Density Residential Zone (MRZ).
Minor residential unit means a self-contained residential unit that is ancillary to the principal residential unit, and is held in common ownership with the principal residential unit on the same site (as per the District Plan definition).
This is a common form of development in residential zones other than MRZ.
Processing Issues
We acknowledge that applicants seeking to develop more than one unit on a site in urban Selwyn District have had issues navigating the process across Council. We apologise for the confusion, and have developed a process and some interpretations that are expected to result in a clear, linear process and greater certainty for all.
Servicing Issues
In the urban areas, the District Plan requires that any residential unit/principal building be connected to reticulated water and sewer (or on-site wastewater treatment and disposal in some cases). The Development Engineers, on behalf of Council’s Infrastructure and Property team, are the people who can provide applicants with confirmation that they can meet these rules.
The way they will confirm this is by issuing an Engineering Acceptance letter (formerly called Engineering Approval) prior to any building or resource consent being applied for. This Engineering Acceptance is valid for one year from the date of issue; this is to ensure that servicing capacity is allocated fairly and at the time of need within limited catchments.
More information about how to apply for Engineering Acceptance can be found on Council’s website at Selwyn District Council - Engineering Acceptance.
Please note that Engineering Acceptance prior to building consent or resource consent application will only be available for urban multi-unit/minor residential unit development; it will not be available for rural development/units or greenfield/vacant subdivision.
Once Engineering Acceptance is obtained, the applicant will be able to confirm that the proposed development complies with the servicing requirements of the District Plan, and the way is clear for building and resource consents to be lodged and processed, in whichever order makes sense to the applicant (subject to compliance with the other relevant rules of the District Plan).