Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessment 2026: Business Development and Growth Needs Survey

Overview

Marlborough District Council (Council) is required under the National Policy Statement for Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) to provide sufficient land for urban development, and to monitor urban activity on a quarterly basis. Subpart 5 of the NPS-UD relates to Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessments (HBA). An HBA is one way that Councils can monitor and report on urban development.

The purpose of an HBA is to:

1. Provide information on the demand and supply of housing and of business land in the relevant tier 1 or tier 2 urban environment*, and the impact of planning and infrastructure decisions of the relevant local authorities on that demand and supply; and
2. Inform Resource Management Act 1991 planning documents, Future Development Strategies, and long-term plans; and
3. Quantify the development capacity that is sufficient to meet expected demand for housing and for business land in the short term, medium term, and long term.

*Marlborough District Council is a Tier 3 environment under the NPS-UD, which means that Council is no longer required to complete an HBA. However, given the increased pressure on the housing and business markets, and fast population growth, there is a need to reassess capacity for urban development. Council has completed two HBA, in 2018 and 2022.

Council is taking a practical approach to updating the 2018 and 2022 HBA with a 2025 version, following the guidelines for Tier 1 and 2 Councils as set out in the NPS-UD where possible.

For more information go to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020

The geographical area of focus for the assessment is Blenheim Urban Area, which is shown on the map below:

Marlborough District Council needs to collect personal information (including names and contact details) about people providing submissions to support the public consultation and decision-making process.

Personal information that you provide will be held and protected by us in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. You can access and correct that information by contacting Council at PO Box 443, Blenheim 7240 or emailing privacy@marlborough.govt.nz

Go to Council's full Privacy Statement

Any submission lodged will become a local authority record. It will be made available to the public in meeting agendas and online. Council may also be required to release all or part of the information from your submission in response to a request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1982.

Council may, however, withhold all or part of your submission if exceptional circumstances apply.
 

Why your views matter

This survey will help to provide context and on-ground information about the Business aspect of growth for the 2025 HBA. A similar survey was completed for the 2022 HBA and Council found the information received very useful for reporting. Hearing directly from business owners through this survey ensures business growth and development is accurately provided for in the 2025 version.