Future Selwyn Spatial Plan

Urban Design & Landscape ArchitectureDevelopment Advisory

Selwyn District Council needed a spatial plan that could guide long-term growth across one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s fastest-growing districts, while coordinating infrastructure, transport and community facilities.

Harrison Grierson provided spatial planning advisory services to help the Council team develop its methodology, vision and strategic principles, and to stay focused as the work moved through later phases.

Large spatial planning projects can stall when teams become caught in detail. Harrison Grierson helped Council collate and distil extensive baseline information, link it back to the strategic framework and move confidently to the next project stage. The team also advised on a more data-led approach, including a GIS portal and metrics to support monitoring over time.

The resulting spatial plan received three NZPI awards, including the Supreme Nancy Northcroft Supreme Award, Best Practice Award – Strategic or Non-Statutory Planning and Best Practice Award – Digital in 2025.

Highlights

  • Kept a complex, Council-led spatial planning process anchored to the vision and strategic principles.

  • Turned extensive baseline information into clear technical reporting that helped the team move through project phases.

  • Supported a more dynamic, data-led spatial plan through GIS metrics, maps and monitoring advice.

  • Assisted with the area plan public engagement.