URBAN PLANNING CONSULTANTS: YOUR LOCAL AUCKLAND TOWN PLANNER 

We are an urban planning consultancy specialising in all aspects of urban development and subdivision.

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Providing Quality Urban Planning Advice


Urban Planning Consultants are an urban planning consultancy based in Auckland. As highly experienced town planners, Auckland investors and developers can rely on our team to help you with a range of resource consent and urban planning services related to your development project. 


We can help you with all of the following:



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Urban Planning Consultancy Auckland
A town planners view - black and white drawing of a swimming pool surrounded by trees.

City planning specialists

We‘re one of the leading urban planning consulting firms in Auckland. As your urban planning expert, we can assist you with advice on the town planning regulations applying to your development project. We look for ways to ensure your project can get through the Council consenting system as quickly as possible while still achieving great urban design and environmental outcomes. 


We can ensure the success of your project through working collaboratively with the Council, preparing high quality applications and by providing honest and frank planning advice to you at all stages of the process. In our experience, the planning process is essentially about negotiation and dialogue between the parties involved and as your consultant, you can rely on us to progress any issues with the Council with clear and objective communication. 


Our attention to detail, and quick turnaround times, will ensure your project has a successful outcome.

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The right choice for your development or land use consent advice

Urban Planning Consultants treats your project with the same priority that you do. You can expect fast turn around times to emails or phone calls and professional and upfront advice at all stages of the process.


We have extensive experience in providing urban planning advice and professional services to both investors and developers. We also do work for the Auckland Council meaning that we are highly familiar with Council processes and requirements.


Our ability to assist with your resource consent application is based on our thorough understanding of the varying rules and regulations that apply in Auckland under the Resource Management Act and Auckland Unitary Plan.


We can review your development plans and provide advice on any changes needed to improve the chances of gaining resource consent. We don't take a "tick box" approach to planning, meaning that any specialist reports or information we advise will be only that required to get your resource consent approved. Nothing more. This saves you time and money. 


Once you have decided on a final design, we can prepare your Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE), lodge the resource consent and manage it through the Council system to a decision.



We're always excited to hear about a new project and to meet a new client. Get in touch with us today to find out how the leading urban planning consultants in Auckland can help with your next project.


Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question? We’re here to help.

  • What is urban planning?

    Urban planning is all about designing and organizing our cities and towns. Considering strategic planning theories, urban planning helps:

    • Figure out the best layout for streets, buildings, and public spaces.
    • Balance urban life - the need for homes, businesses, and green spaces, while considering the environmental impacts.
    • Allow for future population growth and changes, like more people and environmental planning.
    • Make sure there's good access to transport, services, and facilities.

    It's like creating a blueprint for how our urban environment develops and thrives, keeping quality of life high, and making awesome places to live, work, and play!

  • What is an urban planner?

    An urban planner in NZ is an expert who works on designing and shaping our towns and cities. They focus on:

    • Planning new developments or revamping old areas.
    • Balancing community needs with environmental care.
    • Working with laws and policies to guide development.
    • Consulting with the public and stakeholders.

    Basically, urban planner are the brains behind making our urban and suburban areas functional, sustainable, and cool places to live and work! We take your economic and social requirements, mix in a bit of strategic thinking, and ensure your needs meet the Council's planning goals.

  • What is a resource consent?

    A resource consent is a Council approval required under the Resource Management Act 1991.  Where any person proposes to undertake an activity that doesn’t comply with the Auckland Unitary Plan rules, a resource consent is required.


    A resource consent is different from a building consent, which is required under the Building Act 2004, a separate piece of legislation.

  • What requires a resource consent?

    There are a number of different resource consents that may be required depending on the activity you propose.  These include:

    • Landuse Consents – these are required whenever you don’t comply with a district plan rule.  For example a residential development that doesn’t meet the zone standards or doesn’t comply with transport standards.
    • Subdivision Consents – these are required whenever a person proposes to subdivide an existing site into smaller sections.  There are a number of rules in the Unitary Plan depending on whether you are planning to subdivide around buildings or whether you want to create vacant sites.
    • Water Permit – these are a regional consent that is required whenever a person wishes to take or use water.  In the Auckland context when you are doing significant excavations that are likely to intercept the groundwater table you will also require a water permit.
    • Streamworks Consent – these are required whenever a project impacts on existing streams.  This could include placing piles within a stream bed, diverting or piping a stream or undertaking earthworks near a stream.
    • Discharge Permit – these are required whenever an activity seeks to discharge substances into the environment.  It could be a factory wishing to emit air discharges, or an activity that needs to discharge chemicals or waste to land or streams.
    • Coastal Permit – these are required whenever an activity is proposed within coastal areas commonly referred to as the Coastal Management Area (CMA).  This could include building a wharf or shed within the CMA.

  • How much does it cost to get a resource consent in Auckland?

    The Council charges a deposit for all resource consents.  If the application is a stand alone landuse consent or subdivision consent this is around $4000.  If the application for several resource consents all in the same application this is around $9500.


    The latest Council fees can be found here.

  • How long does it take to get a resource consent?

    The Council has 20 working days to process and make a decision on a resource consent.  It should be noted that it can, and often does, double the processing timeframe to 40 working days so this should be provided for in any project planning.


    The statutory timeframe does not include any time that the applicant takes to respond to any requests for further information (s92 requests).  These are excluded from the processing timeframes.


    For example if the applicant takes 15 working days to respond to a s92 request, the overall processing time will be 35 working days from the date of lodgement.

  • What is notification?

    One of the main decisions that the Council must make on a resource consent is whether it should be notified.  An application can be processed non-notified, limited notified or fully notified.


    An application can be processed non-notified where all adverse effects have been resolved and are determined to be “less than minor” by the Council.  This basically means effects are negligible.


    An application must be processed on a limited notified basis if the Council consider any adverse effects on surrounding people are at least “minor”.  In this case the application would be directly served on affected persons, who can then submit on the proposal.  The application would then proceed to a hearing.


    An application must be processed on a fully notified basis if the Council considers that any adverse effects on the environment will be “more than minor”.  In this case the application would be notified, and any interested person can make a submission on the application, which would then proceed to a hearing.

  • What specialist reports will I require?

    The type of specialist report will depend on the type of project.  Some examples are provided below:


    • Four or more dwellings – you will need a landscaping plan and infrastructure report.
    • Vacant lot subdivision – you will need a survey plan and engineering plans and reports.
    • Streamworks – you will need an ecologist report.
    • An activity breaching noise standards – you will require an acoustic report.
    • An activity gaining access from an arterial road – you will require a traffic report.

    Urban Planning consultants can review your proposal and advise you what specialist reports will be needed to ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible by the Council.

  • How long does a resource consent last?

    A resource consent lasts for five years from the date of the decision.  You can apply to extend the resource consent if necessary, so long as you make this application before it expires.

  • What is a Certificate of Title?

    A certificate of title is the legal document relating to your site.  It shows the boundaries and overall areas of your site and lists any limitations or restrictions on the site.  This can include:

    • Consent Notices – these are ongoing conditions that you must comply with under the RMA.
    • Building Line Restrictions – these are a limitation requiring buildings to be setback a certain distance from the road or areas of soil instability
    • Easements – these show rights that others may have over your site.  This could include a right of way (access), easements for stormwater or other infrastructure, or overland flow paths which could be in favour of the Council.

  • Why use Urban Planning Consultants?

    We are highly experienced in all areas of the Resource Management Act and the Auckland Unitary Plan.


    We treat your project with the same priority that you do.  You can expect quick responses, whether to emails or phone calls.



    We will ensure that you only engage the relevant specialists needed to get your resource consent approved, nothing more.  This saves your time and money.


    We make it easier to get your application approved.


    Please contact us today to discuss your next project, we’d love to hear from you.