Proposed Plan Change E is now paused. Council is required to seek Central Government Approval to continue the project. This is a requirement of Plan Stop, which came into effect on 21 August 2025. open in new window

The Manawatū District Council has been reviewing the provisions of the Manawatū District Plan Town Centre Zone (formerly the Inner Business Zone) and Mixed Use Zone (formerly the Outer Business Zone). This project is known as Proposed Plan Change E: Town Centre.

Provisions relating to the Feilding Town Centre were due for review, not only because the Council must review plan provisions every ten years, but also because aspects of the town centre and community needs and aspirations have changed.

Public submissions were received from Thursday 19 June - Friday 25 July.

Submissions on Plan Change E have closed. Whether the Council calls for further submissions is now dependent on whether the government grants an exemption from Plan Stop.

Council must give public notice by 15 January 2026 as to whether or not an exemption from Plan Stop has been granted (and if not, the must give notice that the Plan Change is being withdrawn).

Proposed Plan Change E proposed to replace the existing Town Centre Zone and Mixed-Use Zone provisions of the Manawatū District Plan in their entirety. Proposed Plan Change E also changes a number of definitions used by the District Plan to bring them into line with central government National Planning Standards (2019).

Some of the key proposals contained within Proposed Plan E are:

  • Reducing the size of the Town Centre Zone to better reflect the actual extent of traditional shopping area around Manchester Square and several adjoining blocks. The rest of the current Town Centre Zone will become part of an expanded Mixed-Use Zone.
  • Allowing more than one apartment to be located above or behind shops, offices and entertainment premises in the Town Centre Zone.
  • Expanding the range of activities that are allowed in the Mixed-Use Zone without a resource consent to include, residential units (houses or apartments), visitor accommodation (e.g. motels), supermarkets, service stations and tourist facilities.
  • Removing the need to obtain resource consents for new buildings in the Town Centre Zone if prescribed standards are met.
  • Increasing the maximum allowable building height from 9 metres to 12 metres (but with new controls to limit shading impacts on residential properties) and simplifying building design rules in the Town Centre Zone.
  • Delete the Large Format Retail Overlay which restricted buildings over 2,000m2 in floor area in the Mixed-Use Zone to a single block south of Eyre Street. Large format retail stores will be allowed anywhere within the Mixed-Use Zone.

If you have any questions about Proposed Plan Change E, please email districtplanreview@mdc.govt.nz