In Aotearoa, the demand for well-designed, accessible, and affordable housing has never been greater. Planz Consultants have extensive experience in the social, community and accessible housing sector. We’ve worked alongside a wide range of community housing providers to help bring thousands of homes to life. But for us, it’s about more than numbers. It’s about people, place, and purpose.
We sat down with one of the Partner’s, Tim Joll to talk about what makes this work meaningful, what really happens behind the scenes, and how planners can help shape better housing outcomes.
With over two decades of experience, Tim brings both technical insight and a deeply human approach to his work. He credits his career choice to watching “too many David Attenborough documentaries” as a kid, a spark that set him on a path to planning, driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the world. And we’re glad he did.
“This is why we do what we do”
“I attended the opening of an ŌCHT social housing development we prepared the resource consent application for, where residents were seeing their new homes for the first time. People were weeping with a combination of joy and relief. It was incredibly moving, and it’s stayed with me. I try to remember that moment when consenting matters get frustrating.”
For Tim, and for the wider Planz team, this type of planning work sits at the heart of the business. It’s about navigating complex rules and land constraints while never losing sight of who and what the housing is for.
Supporting the Most Vulnerable, Respectfully
“There’s a famous saying, ‘The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members’. As planners, we play a critical role in shaping how our towns grow and how well they respond to community needs.”
The role involves working at the coalface and considering conflicting priorities and competing interests. Tim explains that while the need for social and community housing is clear and growing, change can be confronting for some. Respect, empathy, and clear communication are key.
“Any change can be concerning. It’s important to acknowledge those views and work to build understanding and trust, showing respect to all parties.”
Planning is Not One Size Fits All
Having worked with community housing providers across Aotearoa, Tim is quick to point out that there’s no templated solution when it comes to the planning framework for consenting these homes and developments.
“We’ve learnt that design and tenancy management challenges require flexibility. The planning framework isn’t always great at accommodating that, so, part of our role is to help bridge that gap.”
Planz has led consenting efforts on some of the South Island’s largest and most complex social housing projects, often involving contaminated land, flood-prone areas, or heritage overlays. Many of these developments also seek to meet Homestar ratings or provide fully accessible homes.
“It starts with understanding that implementing the correct process is vital to achieving a good outcome. The Pre-Application process is critical and while discussions with interested parties can be challenging, it is also necessary for ensuring that developments are fit for purpose for future residents and that those residents have the greatest opportunity to move into a welcoming community.”
Listening, Navigating, Delivering
What sets Planz apart is not just technical expertise, but a commitment to listening to councils, to providers, and to the people these homes are for.
“There’s a huge amount of institutional knowledge held by organisations providing social and community housing. Just because a development might not fit someone’s personal view of what ‘good urban design’ looks like doesn’t mean it’s not a good outcome. We respect that lived knowledge.”
Tim also acknowledges the unique pressures providers face, from aligning with Government funding guidelines to responding to the housing needs in real time.
“Clients in this space have different stress points, they’re often responding to urgent needs, tenant feedback, or managing funding milestones. Part of our job is to remove friction wherever we can and enable the consenting process to be as quick as possible while listening to the needs of all parties involved.”
Looking Forward
When asked how the planning system could better support social and accessible housing, Tim’s response is pragmatic.
“Such a great question. So rather than trying to change the current system, we focus on building relationships with local authorities to understand where the sticking points are. That way we can help remove as many hurdles as possible, making the process quicker and easier and providing greater certainty for clients”
With thousands of homes already consented and more on the way, Planz remains committed to partnering with organisations that share its purpose, to help navigate Aotearoa toward a better future.
Let’s Talk
If you’re planning your next development, get in touch with a team that understands the process, the people, and the purpose.
