Draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan

The Council is part of the Whakawhanake Kāinga Komiti (Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch). The Komiti has released a draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan for public consultation.

This will provide a blueprint for how we will accommodate future population and business growth in our sub-region.

Over the past 15 years, Greater Christchurch has grown rapidly. By 2050, more than 700,000 people are projected to be living in the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri districts – 30% more than there are today, with the population potentially doubling to 1 million people within the next 60 years, if not earlier.

To help avoid future growing pains, the Whakawhanake Kāinga Komiti asked residents through the Huihui Mai engagement in early 2023 how they thought we should tackle important issues such as responding to climate change, preserving the environment, making our region more resilient to natural disasters, and making housing more affordable. T

his engagement and our work to develop the evidence base has informed the development of the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.

Now we want to know what you think, and encourage you to make a submission(external link).

What does the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan do?

The draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan addresses six opportunities:

• Protect, restore and enhance historic heritage and sites and areas of significance to Māori, and provide for people’s physical and spiritual connection to these places.
• Reduce and manage risks so that people and communities are resilient to the impact of natural hazards and climate change.
• Protect, restore and enhance the natural environment, with particular focus on te ao Māori, the enhancement of biodiversity, the connectivity between natural areas and accessibility for people.
• Enable diverse and affordable housing in locations that support thriving neighbourhoods that provide for people’s day-to-day needs.
• Provide space for businesses and the economy to prosper in a low carbon future.
• Prioritise sustainable transport choices to move people and goods in a way that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enables access to social, cultural and economic opportunities.

The draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan delivers five key moves:

• The prosperous development of Kāinga nohoanga
• A strengthened network of urban and town centres
• A mass rapid transit system
• A collective focus on unlocking the potential of Priority Areas
• An enhanced and expanded blue-green network

Why is the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan needed?

In 2022, the Greater Christchurch Partnership and the Crown established an Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch – the Whakawhanake Kāinga Komiti. The partnership is focused on shared objectives related to affordable housing, emissions reduction, and creating liveable and resilient urban areas. The first priority of the partnership is to develop the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.

The purpose of the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan is to:  

• Set a desired urban form for a projected population of 700,000 (to 2051) and beyond that to 1 million people to ensure Greater Christchurch is future-proofed in the context of population growth and climate change. 
• Deliver the top priority of the Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch to develop a Spatial Plan that coordinates and aligns the aspirations of central government, local government and mana whenua. 
• Satisfy the requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development for the Greater Christchurch Councils to jointly prepare a Future Development Strategy.

Next steps

How to find out more and make a submission

View the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan (external link)and make a submission:

• Complete the online submission form(external link).
• Email: huihuimai@greaterchristchurch.org.nz
• Post: Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan Consultation, Greater Christchurch Partnership, PO Box 73014, Christchurch 8154
• Delivery:
  • Christchurch City Council, Te Hononga Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street, Christchurch
  • Selwyn District Council Offices, 2 Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston
  • Waimakariri District Council Offices, 215 High Street, Rangiora
  • Environment Canterbury, 200 Tuam Street, Christchurch

Talk to the team

If there is a community meeting you would like us to attend, please let us know.

You can also email us any time to speak with us directly about the project at huihuimai@greaterchristchurch.org.nz