The Christchurch City District Plan contains a number of rules that enable certain activities to be considered as controlled activities when certified by a qualified expert who is on a Council-approved list.
The approved experts can provide certification for developments in the Commercial and Central City Core zones. The expert assesses whether the development meets all of the matters set, and detail how the matters are met in their certification.
Where certification pathway is applicable to a proposal, the approved expert is directly engaged by the applicants who wish to use the pathway.
2025/26 Expressions of Interest for the Register of Approved Urban Design Experts for Certification
The Council advises that the 2025/26 Expression of Interest process is now closed.
For any enquiries regarding the EOI process, please contact: UDCertification@ccc.govt.nz
Register of approved experts current until March 2026
Company name: Boffa Miskell
Address: Level 1, 72 Shotover St, Queenstown, 9300
Email: tim.church@boffamiskell.co.nz
Phone: 03 364 4764
Mobile: 027 277 8902
Company name: DCM Urban Design Ltd
Address: 10/245 St Asaph Street, Christchurch 8011
Email: dave@dcmurban.com
Company name: Jasmax
Address: Level 1, 79 Lichfield St, Christchurch, 8011
Email: edward.jolly@jasmax.com
Mobile: 021 552 753
Company name: Mein Urban Design and Planning Ltd
Address: 21 Warwick Avenue, Westmere, Auckland, 1022
Email: lisa.mein@mudp.co.nz
Company name: Boffa Miskell
Address: Level 1, 141 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch, 8013
Email: jane.rennie@boffamiskell.co.nz
Phone: 03 353 7564
Mobile: 027 508 9183
The standard consenting process, where Council staff assess urban design matters, is the default when a resource consent is required. Urban design certification provides an alternative process under the District Plan, allowing applicants to provide evidence that their development meets the urban design matters of discretion through certification provided by a Council-approved expert.
Any engagement of the above experts is entirely independent of Council.
The experts must operate with professional integrity, and there should be no expectation that the experts will be able to certify a particular proposal if they don't think it meets the District Plan urban design matters.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact our Duty Planner.