Resource Consents, Strategy and Policy
Resource Consents (and Designations) are often called ‘planning consents’ or ‘planning permissions’ and are consents granted under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). ‘Policy’ is often used to refer to the preparation or review of Regional or District Plans and similar documents under the RMA. ‘Plans’ are typically prepared by Councils, though private entities can request ‘Private Plan Changes’, for example to ‘re-zone’ an area for development.
Our Planning Experience and Services
VisionUrban was established in mid-2021. Our first project was the development of a ‘Precinct Plan’ for a residential development to accommodate approximately 400-500 households with open space and supporting infrastructure. The Precinct Plan was accompanied by an appropriate suite of new provisions suitable for inclusion into the District Plan. The Precinct Plan was successfully incorporated into the District Plan
Since then, VisionUrban has assisted several Councils with the processing of medium to higher complexity applications for resource consent, presented evidence at RMA Hearings, and worked on Future Development Strategy submissions and projects. Typically, these are low density ‘lifestyle’ medium-high density residential developments in urban or urban-edge environments.
Technical Director Nick Aiken’s professional experience in urban and environmental consents and policy goes back more than 30 years to 1993. It extends through Council and private consultancy roles up to managerial and Technical Director levels. He holds an impressive 100% success ratio for resource consent (preparing or processing applications) and an equally strong record of success in District Plan reviews, plan drafting and changes. As a Planner he has won a number of major industry awards for his work on projects.
Nick also has experience reviewing and preparing RMA and non-RMA strategies and plans, including extensive engagement and has completed IAP2 training.
Key Resource Consent and Policy-Strategy Planning expertise and services offered by VisionUrban are:
- Leading Preparation of Applications for Resource Consent and Certificates of Compliance
- Processing Applications for Resource Consent (various types including very complex)
- Notices of Requirement for Designation (NOR)
- Making Submissions to applications for Resource Consent or NORs, or strategies such as Future Development Strategy (FDS).
- District Plan Review
- Structure and Precinct Plans
- Masterplans
- Non-RMA strategies and plans (such as cycling strategies, corridor management plans, urban strategies and the like)
- Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA)
- Preparing and Presenting Planning Evidence to Council/Commissioner Hearings and to the Environment Court
Note: in many cases other expertise will be required, for example traffic, geotechnical, 3-waters, ecological, landscape-visual. VisionUrban is experienced in assisting with sourcing and project managing aligned disciplines contributions to RMA processes.
