12. Urban Environments Volume One Residential environments Issue 12A – Meeting the residential needs of Marlborough’s urban population whilst ensuring residential activity does not have adverse effects on the environment. Marlborough’s residential environments are diverse in character and include a range of housing types, although there is a predominance of stand-alone residential dwellings. This diversity is a result of previous zoning regimes and will continue through the approaches proposed in the MEP. Residential environments are an important resource for the District and contribute to the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of people. The types and condition of housing and the services available to communities are important considerations in determining the distribution of resources and providing attractive residential environments. Developing residential environments that meet the needs of Marlborough’s urban population while maintaining and improving people's enjoyment of residential amenity is key. It is important that in achieving this, an urban form is developed that ensures Marlborough’s towns remain compact and resilient and that where provided for, urban expansion is sustainably managed. This is particularly the case for two relatively new areas of residentially-zoned land on the periphery of Blenheim and Renwick. Also, changing demographics, including an aging population and an increase in single person households, have led to a greater need for flexibility in the size and type of dwelling options available. Inappropriate land use, subdivision and development in residential areas is a major concern as these factors can adversely affect the character and amenity of Marlborough’s residential environments. Furthermore, commercial activities that do not support the day-to-day living of residents and which detract from residential character and amenity must be avoided; for example, commercial activities located in residential environments have the potential to create effects on amenity, health and safety from noise, parking and traffic movements. Such activities also have the potential to undermine the viability of established business zones. The resource management framework for residential environments encourages the development of attractive, safe and compact residential environments. This can be achieved by controlling matters such as the siting of appropriate activities in Urban Residential Zones, the design, location and scale of land use activities and buildings, the avoidance of certain activities in sensitive locations and impacts on the efficiency and affordability of infrastructure, services and the transport network. [D] Objective 12.1 – Residential zones are primarily utilised for residential activities and a range of opportunities for different forms and densities of residential activity are a vailabl e s inMarlborough’ urban evioments . nrn The objective directs that residential environments are to be used primarily for residential activities. This seeks to ensure that the encroachment of non-compatible activities in Urban Residential Zones does not adversely affect the character, liveability or amenity of Marlborough’s residential environments. In particular, activities that do not support the day-to-day living of residents and that detract from residential character and amenity must be avoided. Secondly, the objective seeks to provide for a range of options in Urban Residential Zones for residential activity that support the needs of residents. This is reflected in subsequent policy that identifies four zones within which residential activity can occur. 12 – 2