National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) and Proposed Change 3 (Urban Development)

Horizons has undertaken a change to the Regional Policy Statement in the One Plan to meet the requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD). 

 

Plan Change 3 partially operative

With effect from 16 December 2024, Plan Change 3 (Urban Development) to the One Plan is partially operative.  On 26 November 2024, Horizons Regional Council resolved under Clause 17 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 to approve all parts of Plan Change 3 which have not been appealed.

Other changes made in Plan Change 3 include correcting minor errors under clause 20A of Schedule 1 to the RMA. The minor corrections are unrelated to Plan Change 3.

To view the public notice of Plan Change 3, please click here.
 



Plan Change 3 Decision

On 12 July 2024 Council gave notice that it has made a decision on provisions and matters raised in submissions on the Proposed Plan Change 3 (Plan Change 3) to the Manawatū-Whanganui One Plan. Plan Change 3 introduces new provisions to give effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020. Plan Change 3 sets out objectives and policies for the provision of sufficient development capacity to meet the expected demand for housing and business land, and for the planning of well-functioning urban environments. It also seeks to improve the responsiveness and competitiveness of land and development markets, improve resilience to climate change, and ensure planning decisions relating to urban environments take into account Te Tiriti o Waitangi. At a Council meeting on 25 June 2024, the Council adopted the recommendations made by the Hearings Panel set out in the Hearing Panel’s report dated 11 April 2024 as the Council’s decision on Plan Change 3.  Plan Change 3 changes the Part I – Introduction and general provisions and Part II-RPS-UFD – urban form and development chapters of the One Plan.
 
The appeals period closes on 23 August 2024.
 



Appeals

The appeals period closed on 23 August. Three separate appeals were lodged with the Environment Court on Plan Change 3 (Urban Development) by Transpower New Zealand Ltd, Fonterra Ltd and the Minister of Defence.
 

 

Section 274 notices of appeal

Parties to Transpower New Zealand Ltd appeal

 

Parties to Fonterra Ltd appeal

 

Parties to the Minister of Defence appeal

What is the NPS-UD and why is Proposed Change 3 needed?

The NPS-UD sets out objectives and policies for the provision of sufficient development capacity to meet the expected demand for housing and business land, and for the planning of well-functioning urban environments. It is intended to improve the responsiveness and competitiveness of land and development markets, improve resilience to climate change, and ensure planning decisions relating to urban environments take into account Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
 
The NPS-UD requires the Horizons Regional Policy Statement (RPS) to be amended to give effect to its provisions.

 

What is an ‘urban environment’?

‘Urban environments’ are defined by the NPS-UD as urban areas that have or are intended to be part of a housing and labour market of at least 10,000 people. 
 
In the Horizons Region, urban environments are Feilding, Levin, Palmerston North and Whanganui.

 

What is the scope of Proposed Change 3?

The scope of Proposed Change 3 has a narrow focus, with a view to giving effect to the NPS-UD with regard to intensification, responsiveness, climate change and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

 

Key Documents - Submissions and Further Submissions

The closing date for original submissions was 5pm on Tuesday 15 November 2022. We received 19 submissions in total. A summary of submissions and copies of the submissions are available below. Further submissions closed on Tuesday 28 February 2023 and three were received.
 



Key Documents - Hearing Documents



Key Dates for Hearing

Date Activity
24 January 2024 Rebuttal evidence
31 January 2024 Legal submissions and non-expert presentations
7-9 February 2024 Hearing

 
For more information on Proposed Change 3 (Urban Development), please email oneplan@horizons.govt.nz or phone 0508 800 800.
 

Proposed Change 3 Timeline

Timeframe Action
September 2022 Council approval for public notification
October 2022 Public notification of PC3
October–November 2022 Submissions period – 20 working days
November-December 2022 Prepare summary of submissions (decisions requested by submitters)
Late January 2023 Publicly notify summary of submissions to enable certain persons (as defined by RMA) to make further submissions – either in support or opposition
February 2023 Further submissions period – 10 working days
Early–late 2023 Staff prepare recommendations in response to submissions received.  Meetings may occur with submitters to clarify relief sought
Early-Mid  2024 Hearings held, Hearings Panel deliberates and makes recommendations to Council
Mid-late  2024 Council to consider whether to adopt Hearings Panel recommendations as Council’s decisions.  If Council adopts those recommendations they will then become Council’s decisions which must be publicly notified.

 

Proposed Plan Change 3 Timeline

  • Summary of Submissions July, 2020 to August, 2020

    Prepare decisions requested by submitters

  • Council makes decision on recommendation 13 April, 2021 to 13 April, 2021

    Recommendation received from Hearing Panel provided to Regional Council for them to make a decision whether to adopt.

  • Approval for Public Notification 21 September, 2022 05:00 pm

  • Public Notification of PC3 03 October, 2022 05:00 pm

  • Submissions Period October, 2022 to November, 2022

    20 working days

  • Publicly notify decision 11 January, 2023

    summary of submissions to enable certain persons (as defined by RMA) to make further submissions - either in support or opposition

  • Further Submissions Period February, 2023

    10 working days

  • Hearing of submissions April, 2023

    Hearing Panel deliberates and makes recommendations to Council

  • Hearing Panel Recommendations 2024

More information

How will development capacity be monitored and assessed?

The NPS-UD also requires local authorities to ensure there is sufficient housing and business land development capacity to meet demand. For urban areas with populations that are greater than 10,000 people this includes a requirement to monitor development capacity.

As a larger city categorised as ‘Tier 2’ under the NPS-UD, reports also have to be prepared to assess future housing and business development capacity for Palmerston North. Reports are available to view on Palmerston North City Council’s website.