Structure Planning is a term widely used in New Zealand to describe a process whereby the structural elements of an area are identified and then incorporated into a plan, or a series of plans that provide the foundation for planning and subsequent development of an area. Also commonly referred to as “Master Planning” overseas, it is context dependent. For example in a typical urban environment, matters such as infrastructural capacity, economic demand, transport networks, and urban design are the key issues that impact upon design considerations. In the rural context, matters such as landscape, ecological corridors, archaeological or cultural features, as well as geotechnical, site contamination, transport and onsite infrastructure are often the key issues. We identify the relevant matters, commission and prepare the appropriate reports and can lead a structure plan process that can form the foundation for a re-zoning of an area on the back of this process.
