Milford Road Merchant
Location: 225 Milford Road, Te Anau
Opened: October 2023
Our Solution
Our planning team stepped in to:
Assist Fjord and Jen in refining their proposal – now amended to include takeaway food to go and the option of locating a food/coffee caravan or trailer on site –to support flexibility and for futureproofing
Advise on parking, access, and signage in line with council and Waka Kotahi NZTA requirements
Secure written approval from NZTA.
Prepare written information to support the process of securing written approvals from neighbouring landowners.
Prepare and lodge resource consents under the Southland District Plan 2018.
The application process was smooth, with no major delays, and full consents were granted.
The Challenge
When Fjord Ellis and Jennifer Mackintosh purchased their site on Milford Road, they wanted to create a modern convenience store. However, council planners advised that their proposal didn’t comply with the existing 1993 resource consent for the site, putting the project on hold.
The Outcome
The resource consent application was processed on a non-notified basis and consents were successfully granted. The Milford Road Merchant opened in October 2023 and quickly became a local favourite, while also attracting tourists heading to Milford Sound.
Jen reflects:
“We really had no idea just what this whole process involved…and there's no way we could have done that by ourselves! We are glad we took it on and went through all the right channels…to get the peace of mind that we won’t have any more surprises pop up.”
Need Help With Your Project?
If you’ve got a vision but aren’t sure how to navigate the rules and regulations, our expert planners can help. We’ll guide you from first idea to final approval.
Contact us today to see how we can support your project.