Community focus planned for New Brighton housing development

Vacant land in central New Brighton will be developed for affordable housing as a result of an agreement between ChristchurchNZ and a New Zealand development consortium.

ChristchurchNZ Urban Development General Manager Cath Carter says the development is great news for the local community and builds on growing momentum in the seaside suburb as a result of the New Brighton Regeneration Project. It follows the completion of popular public projects on the foreshore and a further housing development on Seaview Road, along with new commercial ventures in the Brighton Mall and surrounding area.

Answers to an open call

An open call for interest in the development of three large blocks of land on Beresford Street was made late last year, with strong interest from the development community. A consortium made up of charitable trusts, a development consultancy and a construction company to build a mixed-tenure residential development was selected to lead the project.

“New Brighton is in the middle of an exciting period of regeneration, with new public projects thriving on the foreshore and commercial developments underway. This community-focused housing development will bring more people to the heart of the suburb and contribute to a growing vibrancy in the east,” she said.

Understanding local housing needs

A spokesperson from the consortium said: “We intend to work with key partners and stakeholders to engage with the wider community and understand local housing needs, in order to deliver homes that will invest into a prosperous future for New Brighton.”

The development team leading the project has built over 1000 homes across more than 80 projects, working with a range of community organisations, public sector organisations and developers, building homes and communities on both the North and South Island. Their recent projects include Karamū at Riccarton Park, an affordable housing development that includes environmental and innovative design aspects.

A public announcement with more information about the development is expected in mid-April.