New Brighton Centre Master Plan

The New Brighton Centre Master Plan aims to re-establish the centre as the heart of the community and be the key activity centre for the eastern suburbs. A revitalised, vibrant centre will attract people to ‘live, work and play’ in New Brighton.

Indicative concept of the Brighton Mall upgrade looking west.

The process to identify stakeholders, key issues, community aspirations and develop the New Brighton Centre Master Plan began in April 2012. After technical expert workshops and community consultation, the master plan was endorsed by the Community Board before being adopted by the Council in March 2015.

Vision, goals and actions

new brighton artist vision

Artist’s impression showing future vision for the New Brighton Centre.

The New Brighton Centre Master Plan contains a strategic vision to reinvent New Brighton as Christchurch’s eastern playground.

The vision is supported by twenty-three goals and four big-picture themes, which are to be delivered through nineteen detailed implementation actions.

These encourage Council, private sector, community and government-led decision-making to align and move forward together in a logical sequence.

The vision, goals and actions are described in detail on pages 20, 23 and 26 of the New Brighton Centre Master Plan [PDF, 4.1 MB].

Progress on implementation of actions

In the years following the adoption of the New Brighton Centre Master Plan, actions have been implemented where possible. The context for these continues to change and this has influenced decisions by the Council, other organisations and private individuals.

In 2015, the Council asked Development Christchurch Limited (DCL) to undertake the staged implementation of the New Brighton Centre Master Plan.

Since 2017, ChristchurchNZ has been tasked with leading the revitalisation of New Brighton, inheriting master plan implementation.

Progress on implementation of New Brighton Centre Village Master Plan actions can be viewed below, under the themes with which each action aligns.

Current projects

Streets and public spaces (A)

  • (A3) New north-south corridor: The Council has begun work towards the Oram Avenue extension through New Brighton Mall to Hawke Street by purchasing the required land. Having acquired 56 Brighton Mall, demolition of the former Westpac building commenced on Monday, 25 September 2023 to make way for a pedestrian walkway. The demolition works are expected to take approximately three months. Once completed, the site will be temporarily fenced while design work is completed. Once the pedestrian walkway is completed, ChristchurchNZ will support its activation, alongside the community, by providing some lighting and beautification. Further progress to deliver the Oram Avenue extension will depend on the confirmation of funding in the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan.
  • (A4) Brighton Mall upgrade: In its Annual Plan FY23/24, the Council brought forward $300,000 for initial planning and design works to upgrade New Brighton Mall between Oram Ave and Marine Parade. This is in support of the proposed development by the Greater New Brighton Group on the site adjoining the southern side of this section of the mall. Initial planning and scheme design work commenced in July. Any further works will require funding via the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan.
  • (A5) General streetscape enhancements: Staff sought public feedback on the Gateway to New Brighton project scheme design in late July/August. It includes cycling and walking facilities along Pages and Seaview Rds, connecting the Ōtākaro Avon River to New Brighton’s mall, pier and hot pools, and the resurfacing of Seaview Rd in a manner consistent with other master plan-related streetscape upgrades. The project also converts the existing roundabout into a new pocket park around the established palm tree, consistent with the western gateway into the shopping centre anticipated by the master plan. The pocket park will include paths for walking and cycling along with artwork developed in collaboration with mana whenua. This proposed project is subject to funding, Council and statutory approval.

Land and development (B)

  • (B1) New residential development: ChristchurchNZ is supporting the Seaview housing development by DGM Group which is underway within walking distance of the commercial centre. This project will see 74 townhouses built on the former Central New Brighton School site on Seaview Road. Stage Two is near completion and work to install a public artwork on the public reserve running through the development is underway. Resource Consent has been granted on the first of three vacant sites along Beresford Street for a further housing project over all three.

Recovery together (C)

  • (C1) A stronger, active business association: The Town Team continues to meet and have been working on a number of small-scale projects to build community connection and inspire local pride.
  • (C3) Transitional projects and events: After the successful completion of the creative pilot project and Expressions of Interest for new community ownership, the Roy Stokes Hall was sold to a local community group to activate in an ongoing way as a community space. LiVs has been supporting handover of the site to this group. ChristchurchNZ has also been supporting placemaking activities in the area. These include the New Brighton Online refresh, a local food market pilot and progress on a local cultural tour.

Completed actions

Streets and public spaces (A)

  • (A1) Foreshore connections: DCL completed foreshore attractions, including the beachside playground and splash pool and He Puna Taimoana (an award-winning combination of open-air hot pools, sauna, steam room and public beach-facing facilities), in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
  • (A2) Marine Parade upgrade: The Council completed a full streetscape upgrade of Marine Parade between Hawke and Beresford Streets, including wider footpaths, street lighting and connection to the new hot pools, in 2020.
  • (A4) Brighton Mall upgrade: The Council installed some temporary cycle stands opposite Carnaby Lane in 2023, which can be relocated and reused once the Oram Avenue extension is implemented.
  • (A5) General streetscape enhancements: The Council completed enhancements to Beresford Street, Hawke Street and Seaview Road where they intersect with Marine Parade, as part of the Marine Parade streetscape upgrade, in 2020.

Land and development (B)

  • (B1) New residential development: DGM Group completed Stage One of the Seaview housing development on Seaview Road, and the public reserve running through it, in 2023.
  • (B4) New pedestrian links: The Council completed a pedestrian crossing, as an early part of the Marine Parade upgrade, in 2018.

Recovery together (C)

  • (C1) A stronger, active business association: As part of the Neat Places-facilitated marketing campaign to support the commercial core, ChristchurchNZ assisted deliver ‘Good Guides’ and an events assessment to consider gaps and a future strategy in 2023. The Town Team delivered a project to brighten shop fronts with new local branding, and the first ‘Good Guide’ in collaboration with Neat Places, in 2023.
  • (C2) Economic development incentives: DCL supported the re-establishment of the New Brighton Business and Landowner Association and the Creating Momentum Regeneration Fund, which supported projects like the Carnaby Lane Revitalisation Project and a number of business start-ups, in 2017. ChristchurchNZ supported the delivery of business information workshops for local business leaders, small 'upgrade grants' (e.g. for new signage) and a marketing campaign via Neat Places and the release of the first 'Good Guide' in 2022.
  • (C3) Transitional projects and events: The Council and community completed transitional projects, including the Tiny Huts, Recreate, Re:Activate and Pump Track, the Bubble mural in the commercial core and the Good Vibes market in the Roy Stokes Hall, since 2015.

Ongoing actions

Streets and public spaces (A)

  • (A7) Materials and planting palette implementation: DCL completed a materials and planting palette in 2017/2018, which is subsequently incorporated across a number of New Brighton Centre Master Plan actions, including the Marine Parade revitalisation and foreshore attractions.

Land and development (B)

  • (B6) Design code implementation: For the property owners to implement through careful consideration of building design and orientation when redeveloping.

Recovery together (C)

  • (C1) A stronger, active business association: DCL supported New Brighton Business and Landowner Association between 2015 and 2019, with ChristchurchNZ currently working to support some form of an active business association in the long term. ChristchurchNZ continues to support private development efforts, including an existing mixed-use development at the end of Brighton Mall.  See ‘Current projects’ above.
  • (C3) Transitional projects and events: ChristchurchNZ is supporting a number of transitional projects. See 'Current Projects' above.
  • (C4) Graffiti removal: The community with Council assistance, has and continues to provide this since 2015.
  • (C5) Case management: The Council has and continues to provide assistance since 2015.

Commenced actions

The following New Brighton Centre Master Plan actions have commenced and/or been completed in part to the extent noted:

Streets and public spaces (A)

  • (A3) New north-south corridor: See ‘Current projects’ above. The Council’s 2021-2031 Long Term Plan has allocated funding for land purchase and subsequent delivery in FY2026/27 to FY2028/29 respectively.
  • (A4) Brighton Mall upgrade: See ‘Current projects’ above. The Council’s 2021-2031 Long Term Plan has allocated funding for delivery in FY2026/27 and FY2027/28.
  • (A5) General streetscape enhancements: See ‘Completed actions’ above. The Council has yet to fund the streetscape upgrades to the balance of Beresford Street, Hawke Street and Seaview Road and to Union Street and Shaw and Oram Avenues.

Land and development (B)

  • (B1) New residential development: See ‘Current projects’ above.
  • (B4) New pedestrian links: Private landowners and the Council may incorporate further links into private development and/or as part of the intended north-south corridor respectively.

Not yet commenced actions

Streets and public spaces (A)

  • (A6) New open space and public toilets: The Council has allowed for a new public toilet and open space in association with the land purchase for the new road corridor (although the open space may be limited depending on the extent of land ultimately acquired), but has yet to fund this action.

Land and development (B)

  • (B2) Relocation of the supermarket: The supermarket owner is still considering options for its future.
  • (B3) New bus interchange: The Council has provided for a bus superstop in the scheme options for the new north-south corridor as an interim measure, but has yet to fund this action.
  • (B5) Car parking improvements: For the property owners to implement through the maintenance of and improvements to the use, layout, security/safety and appearance of existing private car parking areas.

Discontinued actions

Recovery together (C)

  • (C6) Council customer services: The Council has considered this, through its wider customer services programme, and discounted it.