Apr 4, 2025 2 min read

Press Release: Christchurch City Council PC14 Delay Request - April 2025

Williams Corporation's "Manchester Square" development on Manchester Street is what we need more of, if we are to fix our housing crisis and urban sprawl problems.

Greater Ōtautahi is disappointed that the Christchurch City Council is again seeking a delay on PC14, preventing the growth that our city needs to thrive.

In a housing crisis, where ordinary people are struggling to pay rent, the Council is again trying to avoid the results of their vote against MDRS. These are the same stalling tactics that Council has been using for nearly three years, and to the cost of over four million dollars. With over 1000 submissions to the Independent Hearings Panel, choosing to delay this is going against the wishes of residents and ratepayers.

We agree with Halswell Cr Andrei Moore: "It’s high time we wake up and deal with the reality of city growth."

At a time when Council spending and rates rises are under discussion, we are shocked that Council has failed to recognise that — had it simply accepted the essential work of allowing densification — there would now be more rating units to support growth and blunt the impact of increased rates. The simple fact is that urban economists, community members, and housing experts have consistently argued in favour of increased density for Ōtautahi.

Consenting numbers are tracking well in Christchurch, but we need to look at what we are consenting, and how we can make better use of our existing infrastructure with more density.

We need increased density across the city for everybody's sake. We need to have affordable housing in inter-connected communities. Everyone in our communities needs ready access to Council facilities, businesses, and public infrastructure. As a city, we need to be able to make our own choices on transport and lifestyle. We need to make sure that local businesses have patronage from local residents.

This vote puts the Council at odds with Minister Chris Bishop's consistent and longstanding position of growth, using the RMA reforms as an excuse to back out of their commitments. Every delay makes Ōtautahi Christchurch more likely to be left without the bespoke plan that the Council has used as a pretext for these stalling tactics.

Media Contact - Harrison McEvoy: greaterotautahi@gmail.com