Urban Design

The Council is committed to working with the community to rebuild Christchurch as a city for people.

Well-designed buildings and spaces will make Christchurch an attractive and healthy place to live, with strong communities, a healthy environment and a vibrant economy. 

In order to achieve this, the Council:

  • provides a design review service for private developments, to promote good-quality design
  • runs an independent Urban Design Panel made up of leading design professionals
  • develops design guides and case studies illustrating best-practice urban design
  • works with communities to develop and carry out suburban masterplans
  • designs and upgrades public spaces and facilities
  • provides facilitators and runs community workshops for public space projects
  • carries out a programme of transitional projects and provides funding others to carry out transitional projects 
  • supports businesses returning to the central city and suburban centres
  • works with local groups such as Gap Filler, Life in Vacant Spaces, Te Putahi and Greening the Rubble to fund and assist their work.