Preferred proposal for Turners & Growers site named

4 November 2004

Christchurch City Council has decided to proceed to the next stage in the development of the block of central city land known as the Turners and Growers site, by accepting a private company as a preferred bidder to develop a proposal for a “central city urban village”. Today’s Council vote was unanimous.
Allan Johnson, the Council’s project manager, says the team proposed by Urban Winery Holdings Ltd has substantial experience with residential development projects elsewhere in New Zealand. Their concept plan was the one which most successfully met the Council’s objectives for the site, he said.
“It provides residential and hotel accommodation in an urban village setting, with well designed public open spaces, supported by a wide range of business activities,” Mr Johnson said.
The Council made the decision at its meeting on Thursday, 4 November.  Councillors heard that the development will be staged over three to five years.  The next step will involve Urban Winery Holdings Ltd working with Council staff to produce a more detailed plan and agreement for development which will be referred to Council for approval.  This is expected to occur early next year.
 “It’s the combination of residential, retail, business and park that makes this an integrated and dynamic proposal, very much in line with what the Council and Central City Mayoral Forum had envisaged,” says Garry Moore, the Mayor of Christchurch. “Not only will it help to increase the number of people living in the central city, it seems to have the makings of a unique attraction in the eastern part of our central city for residents and visitors to Christchurch.”

• More information about the City Council's vision for the central city and about the Turners and Growers project and other central city revitalisation projects can be found at http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/

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