Plan Change 2 to enable more housing choice in Invercargill

Invercargill is set to have greater housing choice and more opportunities for medium-density development, when Plan Change 2: Housing and Code of Practice becomes fully operative this week.

Plan Change 2 changes the Invercargill City District Plan to enable greater density and a wider variety of housing in the Residential 1 and Residential 1A Zones, while introducing provisions to support good urban design and manage the effects of more intensive development.

Invercargill City Council Consenting and Environment Group Manager, Jonathan Shaw, said the changes responded to the city’s changing housing needs.

“We know Invercargill has enough residentially zoned land overall, but what we have been missing is greater choice in the types of homes that can be provided, particularly smaller, attached and medium-density housing closer to the city centre,” Shaw said.

“Plan Change 2 creates more opportunities for those types of homes to be developed. Over time, that could mean a greater variety of housing for people at different stages of life, including people looking to downsize or wanting a smaller, lower-maintenance home.”

Shaw said the intention was to give people more options for how residential land could be developed, while making sure the quality of the homes and neighbourhoods created was considered.

The plan change was publicly notified in January 2026. Nineteen submissions and three further submissions were received, with a hearing held in May. An independent Hearing Panel approved the plan change with amendments, and its decision was publicly notified on Monday, 13 July. No appeals were received by the close of the appeal period.

Plan Change 2 will become fully operative on Friday, 2 October 2026 and will be found on the Council website as part of the District Plan.