Jonathan is currently part of the team at Planz Consultants Ltd, based in Christchurch. He has some 20 years’ experience working as a planner for both Local Government and as a private consultant in both New Zealand and the UK. In New Zealand Jonathan has worked extensively in plan preparation and policy development, resource consent preparation and processing, the preparation and presentation of evidence at hearings and the Environment Court, and providing statutory and non-statutory planning advice to Council management teams and elected members. In the UK Jonathan worked for the Southern Tourist Board and the Greater London Authority processing large-scale planning applications of strategic significance and providing planning advice to the Mayor of London.

Jonathan is an accredited commissioner and regularly acts as a Commissioner for the Christchurch City Council. He is also a qualified Urban Designer with extensive experience in the development of District Plan changes and resource consent applications that address significant urban design issues. He has a B.Sc. in Geography, a Masters of Regional & Resource Planning, a Masters of Urban Design, and is a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Planning Experience

Jonathan has been extensively involved in undertaking s.32 assessments and associated public consultation, working with elected members to ensure governance buy-in, drafting s.42a officer reports, and presenting evidence at hearings as part of the preparation of Plan Changes for both Councils and private applicants. These plan changes have addressed a broad spectrum of urban growth and regeneration issues, including urban design controls for commercial centres, medium density housing, heritage, industrial brownfield regeneration, greenfield urban growth, rural residential development, and the recent review of the Christchurch Plan and the Lyttelton Port Recovery Plan directed under CERA legislation.

Jonathan has assisted a wide range of clients through the preparation of resource consent applications and associated urban design assessments. Recent projects have included the development of key anchor projects in Central Christchurch for a new bus interchange, central library, and Hagley Oval, along with significant expansion of commercial centres, medium density residential developments, and health and education facilities.

This coal face experience of both policy and consents, and as both a Council officer and a consultant, has enabled Jonathan to have a broad understanding of current legislation and practice. His experience has also enabled an awareness of the challenges facing the profession and the role of the Institute in empowering and supporting planners to make a positive and enduring contribution towards delivering sustainable, resilient, and attractive urban environments.