This page is not a current Christchurch City Council document. Please read our disclaimer.
Local Development
According to the 1996 Annual Survey of Residents, 58 percent of residents were aware of new residential building, alterations, extensions or developments in their local area during the past 12 months. Of this group, 55 percent felt the changes had made the area better or much better. This level of satisfaction was significantly higher than the 50 percent who approved of local development in 1995. However, offsetting this increase in approval rating was a similar increase in the percentage of residents who considered development had made their area worse or much worse during the last 12 months (21 percent in 1996 compared to 18 percent in 1995).
Figure 2.10 outlines the trend in approval and disapproval ratings between 1992 and 1996. The graph indicates slightly more than half the residents, who were aware of local developments, approved of the work undertaken. However, a steadily growing group disapproved (increased from 10 percent in 1991 to 21 percent in 1996). Twenty six percent of residents who were aware of local development felt there were examples of activity in their area which should not have been allowed. These included:
The impact of infill housing - particularly effects associated with cross leasing and the subdivision of existing sections. This issue generated the most criticism for the fifth year in a row. Criticism included, houses being built too close together and too close to boundaries, too many properties on one site, overloading of existing infrastructure and community facilitates, lack of privacy, loss of views and outdoor space, subdivided sections too small, two storeyed houses being constructed on back sections and general criticism of the increasing population density resulting from this process.
Associated with the criticism of infill housing and urban redevelopment were a number of comments on the lack of character and poor quality of some new housing. There were also objections to the placement of garages on the street frontage of properties and the impact this has on the character of some suburbs.
Many of these issues are addressed in the new City Plan. It is anticipated that input from the public received during the submissions process will assist the Council in refining measures for addressing these issues.
Source: Christchurch City Council, Annual Survey of Residents