Development Support delivering better outcomes for Rotorua
A new and improved service to support landowners and developers is creating new opportunities for the Rotorua housing market.
Recognising the challenges that can create barriers for potential developers triggered a change in the level of support Rotorua Lakes Council provides before resource consent applications are lodged.
Community and District Development DCE Jean-Paul Gaston says the aim has been to move to proactively supporting development opportunities by building relationships and creating connections within the local development and construction industry.
“There were a number of key reasons why we needed to take action. Rotorua had a history of low growth, a restrictive district plan, lack of investment in infrastructure that would support more housing, land-based constraints and a community that was not used to growth. There was also limited private sector capacity and capability and council had taken a reactive, rather than proactive, approach to supporting development.
“Our housing shortage made it even more important to change our approach.”
The change, along with a number of housing focused programmes and initiatives, is part of Council’s commitment to enabling well-planned growth across Rotorua in response to the district’s housing crisis.
It has resulted in a significant increase in pre-lodgement discussions over the past three years. In 2020 approximately 250 residential lots/houses were at the pre-lodgement stage but now, following the changes in development support and an influx of new developers to town, that number has risen to more than 4000.
Development opportunities by the numbers:
- Council is currently supporting 50 major developments (20 houses or more)
- 13 are Māori-owned residential developments
- 4000 lots/houses in pre-lodgement conversation with Development Support
Active developments by ownership type:
- 62% private ownership
- 14.5% Māori owned general land
- 11.5% Māori land
- 8% Kāinga Ora
- 4% Council owned land (not reserve)
Developers who work with Council can now access increased feasibility and due diligence support, assistance with master planning and urban design, and support to ensure their applications are in the best possible position before they move on to the planning and building consent phase in the process.
Council also now offers increased support for developments on whenua Māori (Māori land) which has its own unique challenges that can create barriers for landowners.
“The Development Support function is progressive, Rotorua has needed an injection of new homes and it’s great that council has had the foresight to dedicate more resource into this space,” says Watchman Capital Developer Marcus Jacobson.
Watchman Capital is a relatively new developer to town and is currently nearing completion of their first local project at Mountview Green in Koutu, delivering 86 homes for Rotorua.
Bill Ritchie, Development Manager for Watchman Capital, says that the support they receive helps deliver better outcomes.
“We’ve found that it’s really been about building genuine relationships with the people we work with in council. The support available helps us deliver better applications for consenting and in turn that means better outcomes for our projects and the wider community.
“Development Support Lead, Simon Bell has been a great conduit into the organisation, his knowledge and dedication to his role and the way he brings people together is a real asset for Rotorua Lakes Council and the development community.
Building a Rotorua for Tomorrow
Housing remains a key priority for Rotorua Lakes Council and the organisation continues to work towards planning for and consenting enough housing options to meet our community’s needs.
Council is working on a number of programmes and initiatives to enable more housing for Rotorua including:
- District Plan changes to enable higher density development across the city.
- Funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund to support future housing.
- Partnering in the Rotorua Housing Accord to reduce the use of emergency housing and increasing housing supply.
- Developing the Rotorua Future Development Strategy to plan for future growth.