With effect from 16 December 2024, Plan Change 3 (Urban Development) to the One Plan is partially operative. Plan Change 3 includes objectives and policies to give effect to the national direction provided in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development, 2020. It includes provisions associated with providing sufficient development capacity to meet the expected demand for housing and business land, and for the planning of well-functioning urban developments. Plan Change 3 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. Plan Change 3 becoming partially operative gives the objectives and policies greater influence in guiding urban development planning across the region. There are three appeals relating to one issue (UFD-I3), one objective (UFD-O3) and one policy (UFD-P4), which is why Plan Change 3 is only partially operative at this time. With the exception of UFD-I3, UFD-O3 and UFD-P4, all remaining provisions included in Plan Change 3 are operative from 16 December 2024. Other changes made in Plan Change 3 include correction of 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. More information about Plan Change 3, including the appeals is available here.