Our approach to development is is consistent with the Government-issued National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission 2008 (NPSET), a planning document under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
The NPSET sets national policy direction requiring the appropriate development of land under and near National Grid assets.
All plan documents (such as district plans and regional policy statements) must give effect to the objective and policies in the NPSET by including specific rules about subdivision, land use and development near National Grid transmission lines and substations, and when considering resource consent applications.
Each district/city plan is different and may or may not include rules restricting development around National Grid assets.
Contact your local council first to discuss what National Grid rules may apply to your property and proposal, including whether resource consent is or is not required. Although National Grid transmission lines are Transpower assets, the rules applying to them are council rules within its plans.
Auckland Unitary Plan
If you are based in Auckland you will need to speak to the Auckland City Council (Duty Planners) to discuss any possible resource consent requirements and AUP National Grid Overlay rules. The Council makes the decision on all resource consents for the area but may consult with Transpower as an affected party.
The Auckland Unitary Plan (Operative in part) (AUP) is Auckland’s planning rulebook and includes a National Grid Corridor Overlay (Chapter D26) with objectives, policies and rules to protect existing National Grid assets.
The National Grid Yard, Subdivision and Substation Corridor are all mapped on Auckland Council’s GIS viewer. If you turn on the “Infrastructure - National Grid Overlay”, you can see if your property is within the National Grid Yard or National Grid Subdivision Corridor.
The AUP rules permit and restrict other specific activities and development, depending on their compatibility with high voltage transmission infrastructure.
The National Grid Subdivision Corridor has varying widths in Auckland depending on the maximum “blowout”, or swing, of the conductors (“wires”) on each individual line span (the distance between the support towers or poles).
Contact us
For development inquiries please use Transpower’s online Corridor Land Use Management Enquiry Portal – Pātai