bg/creating-a-housing-subdivision from Geospatial: the use of skills, tools and data by people in Canterbury

Creating a Housing Subdivision

A land area containing sections for building houses on is called a housing subdivision. Subdivisions need to be very carefully designed and built and meet rules laid down by local councils. New subdivisions will be needed to house people who had to leave their property due to land damage caused by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Creating a subdivision takes time and careful planning. This subdivision at Wigram in Christchurch will provide much needed housing. Image: LEARNZ.

This cadastral map of the Ngai Tahu subdivision shows the areas and dimensions of properties. Image: Wigram Skies.

Creating a new subdivision also means that new services must be installed. Image: LEARNZ.

A subdivision is easier to develop on flat ground but the area needs to have stable ground. Developers must also meet all resource consent conditions to ensure the local environment and wildlife is not harmed. Image: LEARNZ.

A bank has been planted with natives on the edge of a new subdivision near Rolleston in Christchurch. These banks will reduce the road noise for people living here. Image: LEARNZ.

Here are nine steps for creating a residential subdivision:

Complete a site survey (topographic survey) to establish what is there now and identify any planning or engineering issues
Design the subdivision layout
Prepare a Resource Consent Application for the relevant council
Comply with the resource consent conditions. These may be:
• Engineering conditions (construction of drainage, drives, etc.)
• Survey conditions (easements, and legal plans)
• Inspection conditions (proving to Council that things have been done as required).
Complete construction
Complete the legal survey work
Lodge the survey plans with Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)
Apply for a completion certificate
Apply for land titles

You can look at the Christchurch City Council Subdivision Process Diagram (PDF 130k).

There are many rules that govern where and how a housing subdivision is constructed. These rules have developed over many years and each Council has its own set. Council rules may affect:

people density (the minimum area required for a dwelling)
road and driveway widths and gradients
the road and street layout
the limits on how much of the land can be covered by building and impermeable surfaces e.g. driveways
restrictions on the size and shape of back yards
restrictions on land that has hazards e.g. contaminated soil, high noise areas
rules about protected trees
how surface water (storm water) must be drained away
where there are legal rights to the land for other users e.g. covenants and easements

A Registered Professional Surveyor is the key person to consult as they have expertise and knowledge over all these areas. You can go to the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors website to find a surveyor.

There are plans for several subdivisions in and around Christchurch to meet the demand for new housing following the earthquakes.

Māori Keywords

rawa	property
Ōtautahi	Christchurch
ture	make legal
whare	house
hangatanga	(noun) construction, building
whakahou	rebuild

Imagine if you had to leave your home because it was damaged by an earthquake, what kind of subdivision would you like to live in? Design your ideal subdivision.