17 Jul 2018

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Christchurch City Council is seeking public feedback on its proposed plans to upgrade Hereford Street so it is safer and more attractive.

The proposed upgrade affects the section of Hereford Street between Oxford Terrace and Manchester Street. This section of Hereford Street is already part of the city centre’s slow core, where the maximum speed is 30 km/h.

As part of the proposed upgrade, the Council plans to:

  •  Replace the street’s badly damaged footpaths with new, paved footpaths. On the south side of Hereford Street it is proposed to have a five-metre wide length of footpath so there is space for outdoor dining as well as pedestrians. On the north side the footpath generally will be three-metres wide, but widened where existing outdoor dining is present.
  • Maintain a ‘local distributor’ street for general traffic – and to access new parking buildings along it.
  • Improve the streetscape by adding street trees in raised planter boxes with in-built seating.
  • Provide spaces at nights for taxis and Ubers on Hereford Street near the Oxford Terrace intersection.
  • Add painted on-street cycle lanes so it is safer for cyclists travelling along the street.
  • Provide three mobility parks on Hereford Street.
  • Locate two bus stops in the block between Colombo Street and Manchester Street.

Councillor Pauline Cotter, who chairs the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee, says the two blocks of Hereford Street the Council wants to upgrade were badly damaged by the earthquakes and later demolitions.

“We now have an opportunity to upgrade the street to provide an attractive setting for new and repaired buildings, with an improved street environment for all users.

“This is a very busy and popular area, especially at night with people moving between the various venues and developments. The wide footpaths on both sides of the street will give people plenty of room. In addition, the extra spaces at night for people needing to catch taxis and Ubers will benefit this very popular hospitality area,’’ Cr Cotter says.

The proposed parking layout aims to balance the need for outdoor dining spaces and was re-designed following early feedback from Hereford Street businesses and property owners.

On-street parking, which is limited given the competition for space, prioritises stopping places for buses, taxis and Ubers, mobility parks, short-term pick-ups and drop-offs, and loading.

The number of on-street parking spaces will drop from 51 to 37, but more than 900 off-street parking spaces are available in existing car park buildings on Hereford Street. An additional car park building, with about 400 car parks, is planned at the Oxford Terrace end of Hereford Street.

To view the Hereford Street scheme design and provide feedback visit Have Your Say.

Land sale

The Council is also asking for public feedback on a proposal to sell part of the land at 13 Cathedral Square (the old public restrooms site) to the owners of 111 Hereford Street.  It proposes to widen Strand Lane by acquiring two strips of land and selling the balance of 13 Cathedral Square for commercial use.

“The pre-earthquake plan to upgrade Hereford Street didn’t include an opportunity to improve the Strand Lane pedestrian connection between Hereford Street and Cathedral Square,’’ says Council Head of Transport Richard Osborne.

“With the new developments now planned in this area, the Council’s Hereford Street project team has been working with the adjacent land owners of Strand Lane on a proposal to provide a much wider lane.

“This makes a more attractive pedestrian connection to and from Cathedral Square and provides an opportunity for the adjacent land owners to make better use of the lane.  It is not intended that vehicles will use the lane,’’ Mr Osborne says.