SmartGrowth Development Opportunities
Expressions of Interest
SmartGrowth is inviting expressions of interest (EOIs) for significant development opportunities to help shape the future of the western Bay of Plenty.
This process gives effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) by supporting responsive planning and enabling early engagement on proposals that may inform the next Housing and Business Capacity Assessment (HBA), commencing mid‑2026, and any subsequent review of the Future Development Strategy (FDS) and/or development of a regional spatial plan. These processes will guide the future identification and sequencing of urban growth areas, infrastructure needs, and long‑term investment priorities. Reform of the resource management system is currently underway which may result in changes to this process and the timing indicated.
While we are currently operating under the existing framework, this process allows us to prepare for the changes indicated in the resource management system reform.
This EOI process is specifically for proposals that fall outside the current SmartGrowth Future Development Strategy, available here: Click here
Participation is entirely voluntary and does not affect any individual’s rights—landowners, iwi, developers, or infrastructure partners are free to bring forward proposals at any time, including through submissions on any FDS review, proposed regional spatial plan or other planning mechanisms.
Purpose
The Development Opportunities process is intended to identify and enable significant housing, business land, and infrastructure proposals that align with the direction of the SmartGrowth Strategy. This early engagement supports coordinated planning and investment and ensures proposals can be considered in the wider regional growth context.
It is also intended to provide a transparent and consistent approach to considering development proposals, reducing the need for ad hoc or reactive responses to unanticipated or out-of-sequence opportunities.
A background paper outlining the process is available here: View document
What We’re Looking For
Proposals should represent significant development opportunities, such as:
Urban housing or business land proposals that would normally require a plan change;
Infrastructure proposals that may require a Notice of Requirement;
Developments capable of delivering at least 50 new dwellings in urban environments.
Proposals should only be for developments not already enabled by underlying zoning. Proposals will be assessed by SmartGrowth partners for alignment with:
The SmartGrowth Strategy and implementation approach;
Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement provisions for unanticipated or out-of-sequence urban growth.
All EOIs will be treated as confidential, however information will be shared with SmartGrowth partner staff and governance to enable assessment.
Key Dates
30 September 2025 – EoI Submissions close
October – December 2025 – Evaluation and Discussion
April 2026 – Reporting with recommendations to SmartGrowth Leadership Group
June 2026 – Responses provided
*Note: Both timeframes and other requirements may be updated in response to future Government legislative or policy changes.
How To Submit
Please include the following in your Expression of Interest:
1. Location and scale of the proposal
2. Any key planning or infrastructure issues
3. A brief record of any communication with councils / key stakeholders (if any)
4. Any technical assessments that have been carried out
5. Contact details for follow-up.
Submit Expression of Interest to: SmartGrowth Coordinator, administration@smartgrowthbop.org.nz
