Project portfolio
Our projects range from small-scale resource consents to complex multi-disciplinary subdivisions. Aston Consultants provide specialist planning expertise, land development and resource management skills to projects across the South Island. This portfolio represents some of the projects we had a key role in.
Subdivision and land development projects
Black Point, Banks Peninsula
Subdivision and land use consents obtained for Black Point, a 50 ‘larger lot’ residential subdivision located on a sensitive headland in Lyttelton Harbour. Design incorporates extensive mitigation and enhancement measures including ecological restoration and enhancement, reserves, controls over location and design of buildings, roading, and walkways. |
Flemington Subdivision, Lincoln
Project managers and planning advisors for a master plan and subdivision consents for a 550 lot residential subdivision, including medium density housing. An innovative design-led approach has been taken with the urban designer and landscape architect working alongside the surveyors, engineers and planners from the outset, to develop the subdivision master plan. |
Planning and policy
Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS)
The UDS proposes a 35-year growth management strategy for greater Christchurch. The UDS is part of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement and the Land Use Recovery Plan. The Canterbury Regional Policy Statement has had a complex and rather ‘chequered’ planning history and is currently subject to the pending decisions on the Land Use Recovery Plan prepared under Canterbury earthquake recovery legislation. Aston Consultants have provided planning advice, including submissions and evidence, for various clients with property interests in Christchurch, Waimakariri and the Selwyn Districts. |
Westland District Plan Review/Planning Services
Fiona Aston has provided planning consultancy services to Westland District since the early 1990s, and Aston Consultants, since its inception in 1995. This has included all stages of the District Plan Review process, reporting on numerous plan changes and resource consents and advising on policy and enforcement matters. Proposals have including subdivisions, township growth, mining, quarrying, hazards management, helipads and tourism proposals, and Westland Dairy extensions. |
Primary production and industry
Graeme Lowe Tannery, Christchurch
Successful resolution of appeal (by consent order, part way through Environment Court hearing) by Tannery to ‘reverse sensitivity’ effects of a rezoning proposal for up to 650 dwellings at east Belfast south of the existing Tannery. Aston Consultants provided expert planning evidence for Council and Environment Court hearings and advised on and drafted the terms of the negotiated settlement.. Reverse sensitivity issues centred around the potential for complaints and restrictions on the Tannery activities, principally in relation to odour, from new residents. |
Consenting and AEEs
Copenhagen Bakery, Christchurch
Copenhagen Bakery is an award winning Danish bakery with an enviable city wide ‘following’. Their central city premises were lost as a result of the February 2011 earthquake. Aston Consultants obtained a temporary accommodation order under the CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act) for the new Harewood café followed by resource consent for a permanent café and bakery. Earthquake Commercial Rebuild, 96 Riccarton Road
Resource consent was obtained for a replacement commercial building with retail on the ground floor and offices on the first floor. Consenting issues related to ‘existing use rights’ under the Resource Management Act (which had technically ‘lapsed’), a shortfall in car parking spaces and the non complying building location along the Riccarton Road site frontage. |
Project Aqua
Project Aqua proposed a series of five power stations along a canal on the south bank of the Lower Waitaki River. Aston Consultants were lead consultants for an advisory team to Waimate District Council on social, economic and environmental impacts of the project and the subsequent Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Act. |
Councils and government
Housing New Zealand Comprehensive Housing Improvement Areas, Christchurch (CHIA)
The concept of CHIAs was developed by Aston Consultants, and has been incorporated into the Christchurch City Plan. It provides for the comprehensive redevelopment of areas of state housing at densities which exceed the standards otherwise permitted in the city’s suburban Living 1 zone. The concept has been retained, in an amended and updated form, in the Christchurch Land Use Recovery Plan (LURP) in the form of the Community Housing Mechanism. Queenstown Lakes District Council Planning Services
Resource planning advisors to the Council, advising on numerous (hundreds) of resource consents and plan changes covering a very diverse range of activities, including adventure tourism; hotels, timeshares and workers accommodation; urban and rural subdivision and growth proposals; town centre developments; signage; heritage items; community facilities and infrastructure. Commissioner
Fiona Aston is a fully certified hearings commissioner (with excellence). She has acted as Commissioner for various resource consent hearings for Westland and Selwyn Districts, including a joint hearing with West Coast Regional Council. |
Urban design and master planning
Victoria Square Height Limits – Inner City West Neighbourhood Group (ICON)
Expert evidence for the successful Environment Court appeal relating to height limits for Victoria Square. ICON sought reduced heights (proposed to be up to 60 metres) having regard to urban design, heritage, amenity, shading, landscape setting and contextual factors. Ohoka Rural Residential Rezoning
Project managers and resource planning advisors for a private plan change request for rezoning 32 hectares of rural land adjoining the small village of Ohoka in the Waimakariri District for rural residential purposes. The land based design approach builds on the existing natural and rural qualities of the site. The development form, a series of small clusters, consolidates, and is appropriate in scale and sympathetic to the special village character of the existing Ohoka settlement. |
Community and education
Waimakariri Employment Park
The Waimakariri Employment Park proposal was for a 46 hectare business park located at Christchurch Northern Motorway interchange with Tram Road. Aston Consultants provided expert planning evidence for a successful appeal by Clarkeville Residents Association, who opposed the Park; and planning advice to the Rangoria Central Area Retailers, also in opposition. |
Infrastructure
Nelson Southern Link Road
Nelson Southern Link state highway proposal linked Nelson CBD with the Stoke/Richmond area. Aston Consultants prepared submissions and presented evidence at Council hearings on behalf of Housing New Zealand, a major landowner adjoining the roading corridor. Concerns related to community severance, amenity, noise, dust and visual impacts. |
Consultation
Banks Peninsula Building Controls Consultation
Variation 2 to the Proposed Banks Peninsula District Plan proposed changes to building controls in rural and coastal management areas and followed years of controversy over the definition and extent of significant landscapes on the Peninsula. Aston Consultants undertook and reported on extensive consultation on the proposals with residents groups and other stakeholders on behalf of Banks Peninsula District Council. |