Greater Christchurch Partnership commits to sustainable growth
Environment Canterbury media release: 18th March 2024
The Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee has received and endorsed the final version of the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan. It subsequently recommended its partner Councils adopt the Spatial Plan as their overarching strategy for managing growth.
Pathway to a sustainable future
In response to the anticipated growth of 700,000 people or more in the next thirty years, the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan provides a blueprint that will enable the sub-region to accommodate growth while remaining an attractive place to live, learn, work, visit and invest.
The Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan was informed by a robust evidence base, rigorous analysis and innovative consultation. It identifies the pathway towards creating prosperous, sustainable, well-functioning and resilient urban environments in the dynamic context of ongoing change.
It shows how new houses and businesses can be accommodated in a way that enhances the environment, integrates with transport and other infrastructure provisions, builds greater community resilience against risks of natural hazards, and contributes to a sustainable future for Greater Christchurch for existing communities and future generations.
The Plan was collaboratively developed by the Greater Christchurch Partners and our wider government partners - and informed by widespread public consultation. It identifies major foreseeable opportunities and challenges facing Greater Christchurch - providing an aspirational yet feasible plan to guide its sustainable and prosperous future development.
It provides a collective approach to tackling critical issues that span community, council, and agency boundaries. The Spatial Plan builds on the foundational work of the Greater Christchurch Partnership since 2007 - drawing on the past to build a prosperous shared future.
Read the summary of the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan [PDF].
Read the Full draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan [PDF].
Community voices
More than 7,000 people engaged during the development of the plan through the Huihui Mai survey and 358 then submitted on the draft plan. This provided clear signals on ways Greater Christchurch needs to grow to meet the needs of current and future generations and address challenges of population growth, housing affordability and climate change.
Feedback received provided a strong direction from residents on how to tackle some of the big issues facing the city region, such as improving public transport, building in the right places, strengthening climate resilience and restoring the natural environment.
There was a high level of support (86 percent) for intensifying development along key public transport routes.