Campbell Brown

Service
We pride ourselves on offering exceptional client service, providing on-going and targeted communication; keeping you up to speed with progress on your project. 

Integrity
Strong ethics are fundamental to how we do business. We follow the New Zealand Planning Institute’s Code of Ethics to ensure we provide advice that is fair and stands up to scrutiny.

Sustainability
We are committed to operating in a sustainable manner for our clients and for the environment and actively seek to increase our understanding of sustainability issues. We value and respect the communities where we work.

Innovation
We aim to push the boundaries in the planning and resource management sector to achieve the most value in cost-efficiency and beneficial outcomes for our clients. Our team participates in on-going professional development and closely monitors global trends in the planning and resource management space.

The resource consent application is the opportunity to persuade Council that your project is worthy of consent. A lot rides on the application. Our role is to devise a clear strategy for obtaining the consent, put forward a compelling argument, and cast your project in the best possible light.

We have substantial expertise in preparing resource consent applications. We ensure that the application is prepared to the standards required by Council, in accordance with statutory requirements. Care in the preparation of the application will reduce delays and further information requests. Our experienced and skilled planners understand all aspects of the resource consent process. We simplify and streamline complex processes, to save you money and time, alleviating potential stress.

With a proven track record and strength in working as part of multi-disciplinary project teams, we will often be the lead consultant for the resource consent process component of a project.

Our resource consent experience covers related approvals, including: subdivision consent applications, extension of time applications (s.125 RMA), applications to vary conditions (s.127 RMA), earthworks and discharge consents, requests for certificates of compliance (s.139 RMA). We also deal with ‘outline plans of work’ on behalf of requiring authorities.

Here are our key work areas and experience in terms of resource consents:

Residential
We deal with the complete range of residential projects, including new family homes and additions, terrace houses, multi-storey apartment buildings, retirement villages, and large scale ‘greenfields’ residential developments. Our work includes obtaining resource consent for alterations and additions in the Auckland Unitary Plan’s Special Character Areas Overlay, which covers a number of the inner suburbs of Auckland.

Commercial
Completed projects include retail developments, supermarkets, restaurants and bars, offices, hotels, childcare centres, warehouses and factories, and commercial recreation facilities (go-carts, dance studios).

Community
We have obtained resource consents for community centres, churches, community events and festivals, fire stations, clubrooms, and sports ground redevelopments (including artificial turf playing fields).

Infrastructure
We’ve undertaken the necessary planning work to obtain resource consents for a variety of infrastructure, including new roads, footpaths, boardwalks, stormwater ponds, reticulated services pipelines, public transport shelters, and municipal sanitary landfills.

Education
We have consented numerous education facilities, including new classrooms, halls, administration buildings, pre-schools, shade sails and other school-related structures and activities.

Healthcare
We have obtained resource consents for a range of healthcare facilities, including medical centres, dental surgeries, consulting rooms and offices for doctors and other medical professionals.

Subdivision
Our expertise also covers subdivision, often obtained in conjunction with concurrent applications for residential or commercial development for reasons of efficiency.

With expertise in all areas of district plan and regional plan development, our team has extensive experience in developing district plans, from policy formulation, through to drafting of rules and other provisions, and dealing with appeals.

Plan changes and policy work
We can assist you with preparation of a private plan change. We have prepared numerous private plan changes for clients and have successfully navigated them through the process to the point where they are operative. Our experience with all aspects of public works and infrastructure planning enables us to assist requiring authorities to achieve successful outcomes with projects. We can prepare and lodge notices of requirement on behalf of requiring authorities.

We have also undertaken policy work for local authorities, including future growth studies for towns and similar projects.

District plan reviews
We can also assist public sector clients with the development of statutory plans, or with peer review of proposed district plans prior to public notification. Our experience gives us the ability to identify and address issues that may otherwise undermine the integrity of a proposed plan. We can also process private plan changes that are received by councils.

For private clients, we can review proposed plans to identify issues of concern or opportunities in relation to property portfolios. There will often be ‘up-zoning’ opportunities that arise when a plan is reviewed. We are able to lodge submissions on your behalf in relation to a proposed district plan or a council-initiated plan change.

When it comes to resource management and planning, there is no such thing as a simple project, which is why we undertake due diligence on your behalf to mimimise risk and provide peace of mind. We review, investigate and audit projects so that there are no surprises, keeping you informed at every step of the process.

Land development feasibility assessments
We can review land that is proposed to be purchased, in order to determine potential development yield. We are able to advise on ways in which development potential can be enhanced through resource consents to maximise return. In addition to identifying opportunities, we will also flag any development constraints or risks to be aware of when acquiring a site. This will assist in determining the feasibility of a project before significant investment of energy or capital has occurred and enable an informed decision to be made as to whether the project will proceed.

For those selling unique or unusual pieces of land, or potential development sites, we can prepare a brief and cost-effective report to assist you with marketing. A report of this nature can take some of the guess work out of the process for a developer, and assist in achieving an optimum sale price.

Our team is here to guide you through the intricacies and complexities of planning and resource management processes beyond consents, risk assessments and due diligence. We also offer:

Master planning
We provide the master planning required for large development sites, ensuring that all facets of a successful development are considered and included in the development plans. Considerations such as location of car parks, open spaces and amenity areas, building envelopes, landscaping and infrastructure are essential for the success of any significant development project.

We are aligned with professional colleagues in related fields and can ensure a seamless package of technical inputs is available to undertake the necessary master planning.

Appeals
Our team has extensive experience as expert witnesses in the Environment Court and High Court. Effective expert witnesses need to be skilled, composed and professional. They also need to have a good reputation and be known to act with professional integrity. The outcome of an appeal will be strongly influenced by the quality of the expert witnesses that are giving evidence.

We can advise you on the merits of your case and the chances of success. If you haven’t lodged an appeal, we can prepare and lodge it on your behalf. We will ensure the appeal is correctly drafted to meet the statutory requirements and maintain jurisdiction to achieve an optimum outcome – either through mediation or through a decision from the Court.

Mediation
We can act on your behalf or assist you in a mediation situation, generally conducted through the Environment Court process. Many resource management issues are resolved through either formal or informal mediation. Mediation sessions can be challenging for people unfamiliar with the format or with the specialised nature of the proceedings. We will be a trusted advisor in mediation sessions, to assist you to achieve the best possible outcome.

Submissions
We can assess proposed district plan changes, resource consent applications, and notices of requirement and prepare and lodge submissions on your behalf.