We are updating the Spatial Plan
The Spatial Plan was approved in 2021. It is a growth strategy that sets out where and how the city should grow and develop over the next 30 years. The Spatial Plan considers a range of topics including land use, transport, three waters infrastructure, natural hazards, heritage, and natural environment values.
The 2021 Spatial Plan helped shape Wellington City’s new District Plan. Now the new District Plan is complete, the Spatial Plan can refocus on infrastructure needed to enable urban growth, while keeping its overall goals and directions.
The Spatial Plan needs an update to account for several changes since the 2021 Spatial Plan. These include:
- The 2024 District Plan is now operative in part, with Council decisions made on all chapters.
- The 2024 District Plan adopts the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS), enabling three story residential development in large parts of the city. This means that the 2024 District Plan differs in the enabled pattern of growth compared to the plan set out in the 2021 Spatial Plan.
- Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) has been disbanded. Some of the LGWM projects have been adopted by Council and others have been taken over by central government.
- The Wairarapa-Wellington-Horowhenua Future Development Strategy was approved in March 2024. This is a high- level Spatial Plan for the wider Wellington Region in accordance with the requirements of the National Policy Statement for Urban Development.
- The Wellington City Council 2024 Long Term Plan has been approved, and planning has started for the next 2027 Long Term Plan. The Spatial Plan can help with Long Term Plan actions and priorities.
- Central government has signaled upcoming changes around infrastructure funding and delivery.
- New information is available from the 2023 census on population and dwelling counts.
- Central government has announced a new direction for three water services policy and legislation, Local Water Done Well.
- Central government have released high-level decisions on the content and function of spatial plans in New Zealand’s new planning system.
Next steps
We plan to set out the key issues and opportunities for the Spatial Plan update to Council after the October 2025 local government election.
Council will guide the Spatial Plan update in 2026, and this will inform development of the 2027 Long Term Plan.
2021 Spatial Plan
See the 2021 Spatial Plan online