Consultation opens on Wellington heritage provisions

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has released an investigation report and launched consultation on Wellington’s heritage planning rules related to five key sites.

The report follows a request from Wellington City Council for the Minister to exercise the regulation-making power in the Resource Management Act, which enables the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform to remove or modify provisions in district plans where they negatively impact economic growth, development capacity or employment.

The investigation found that some heritage provisions are having negative impacts on economic growth and employment and explores how these can be remedied.

The report estimates that modifying/removing the relevant controls could enable around 770 additional apartments, generate approximately $280 million in construction activity, and support around 300 jobs through commercial redevelopment, including film studio facilities.

Following consultation, the Minister will consider feedback from affected parties alongside Wellington City Council’s response to the investigation report before deciding whether to recommend regulations under section 360I of the Resource Management Act.