Southern sun throws shade on housing reforms

Residents' associations in Christchurch have lobbied furiously against the MDRS housing rules. (Image: Christchurch city council)

Oliver Lewis

Fri, 17 Feb 2023

Christchurch looks set to progress a sunlight-related argument that would delay housing intensification changes by a year.The move will likely frustrate developers, however, council staff argue it’s about ensuring new housing has sunlight access comparable to Auckland. Christchurch is the only tier 1 council in the country not to notify a plan change in response to government housing directives contained in the national policy statement on urban development (NPS-UD) and the medium-density residential standards (MDRS).The latter, a re...

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