The UDS is a growth management strategy being prepared by Selwyn District Council in partnership with others.  The strategy establishes a settlement pattern for residential, commercial, business and rural residential growth to 2026 and beyond to enable long-term infrastructure planning and maintain those features that makes Selwyn unique. 

Selwyn has been growing at a rapid rate, and that growth is projected to continue, as the table below indicates.

Existing households in the UDS part of Selwyn District		7,700
Projected Household growth:
2006-2016	+ 4,000	11,700
2017-2026	+ 4,200	15,900
2027-2041	+ 3,740	19,640

Notes:

1.  The UDS study area includes only that part of the Selwyn District that is closest to Christchurch (see map).

2.  Figures sourced from Draft UDS published November 2006 [PDF 2.5 MB].

3.  Multiply households by 2.7 for estimation of population.

The Strategy:

• Reinforces the Selwyn communities desire to maintain its uniqueness and individual character;

• Encourages townships to become more self-sufficient, without attempting to duplicate the range of facilities that are in the city;

• Provides a mandate for District Plan changes through a change to the Regional Policy Statement that reflects the Strategy[1];

• Sets a broad framework for growth within which Council can facilitate market driven township growth through mechanisms such as structure plans (also known as outline development plans);

• Reinforces the Council policy of the I-zone Southern Business Hub being the main industrial centre in the District, and encourages vibrant town centres in West Melton, Rolleston and Lincoln through a range of mechanisms;

• Sets density targets to encourage a full range of section sizes in a township to accommodate all ages and the increase of single person households.  An initial target density of 15 houses per hectare was reduced to 10 through negotiation with Partners, so as to maintain sections that are more spacious than elsewhere, as this is a feature of the Selwyn District. Density targets will be averaged across the whole township to allow higher density for activities such as housing for the elderly.

• Encourages new growth to be designed in a manner that encourages connections to the existing township;

• Confirms the development of Living 2 zoning which provides for rural residential subdivision (ie allotments of 0.5 ha to 2 ha), on the edge of townships. 

The UDS was adopted by Council on 25 October for the purposes of public consultation.  The Strategy was subsequently released on 6 November for public consultation and submissions closed on 20 December.   The strategy will be adopted by Council in April 2007.

Further information, including full text and a summary document of the draft Strategy, can be found at www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz