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Performing Arts Precinct land sale

Update: The decision has been made to reject the proposal to sell the land in the Performing Arts Precinct.

Project status: Decision
Open for feedback: 17 November 2021 to 13 December 2021

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Update - 15 March 2022

Following deputations at the Council meeting on 10 March, additional information was requested.

Video of the deputations(external link)

Discussion(external link)

A further report was presented to Council on 15 March 2022, with information regarding numbers of parking spaces in the existing parking buildings, traffic numbers and legal advice.

At this meeting Council decided to reject(external link) the proposal to sell the land in the Performing Arts Precinct.(external link)

Councillors voted to retain the land so that the Council can explore other uses for it in the future. The next step is for staff  to explore other possible opportunities for the land that will both support the performing arts in Christchurch, and contribute to the vitality of the area.

Video of discussion, deliberations and decision(external link)

For background information, updates and to sign up to the newsletter see our project page(external link)(external link).  

Consultation has now closed

People were able to provide feedback from 17 November to 13 December 2021.

During this time we heard from 257 individuals and groups. 

Submission analysis [PDF, 203 KB]

More information about the project

Land agreement

Below is the redacted land agreement and resource consent plan between Wilson Parking New Zealand Limited and Christchurch City Council

Wilson's car park land agreement [PDF, 1.7 MB](external link)

Resource consent plan [PDF, 24 MB](external link)

Closing consultation information

Consultation has now closed.

Summary of feedback received

  • 38 submitters supported selling the land for a car park
  • Submitters who supported the sale wanted to see the façade tie in with other buildings in the vicinity with architecture similar to Lichfield Street parking building
  • 219 did not support selling the land for a carpark
  • The main theme of those not in support relate to climate change, with reference to the Council’s Climate Resilience Strategy and that we have declared a climate emergency.
  • General comments on climate change and that we are in a climate emergency.
  • We need to encourage other modes of transport in to the city. These comments included; improving the bus service and connecting the cycleways. 
  • Didn’t want a car park in this location and the land should be used differently. Some suggested keeping it for performances and retain as a grassed area.

Submissions [PDF, 3.7 MB](external link)

Performing Arts Precinct Car Park - Request for Proposals
Response Detail
Response 1 (preferred) The preferred response included a conforming proposal and met all of Council’s requirements for the carpark and the precinct. The respondent consists of a proven local developer in collaboration with an international operator and provided the opportunity for the best overall financial return for the Council. The proposal limited risk to Council, importantly ensuring the project shall be completed within the required timeframe in order to support the PAP and surrounding area. A detailed design and robust development programme was presented and financial viability validated. The applicant demonstrated previous and existing relationships with all necessary contractors, including a strong design team who had completed a substantial amount of pre-planning work. The applicant’s proposal to acquire the land at market value was deemed acceptable to Council.
Response 2 This response included an alternative proposal from a local developer that did not meet all the requirements and represented a lower financial return to Council. The proposal included the transfer of a secondary section of land within the PAP, at no cost to the developer. The car park proposal provided fewer spaces than the preferred respondent. It did provide for additional future car parking in the vicinity of the PAP. This proposal did meet the necessary development timeframes and included an experienced development/design team. However, the level of risk to Council was greater than the preferred, primarily due to the conceptual stage of this response and the uncertainty around the land transfer arrangements. Inclusion of the secondary site (at nil value) was not seen as a beneficial outcome for Council as it was inconsistent with Council’s preferred “performing arts” use of the site.
Response 3 The 3rd ranked application included a new consortium of entities, proposing to develop a modular car parking facility from renewable resources. The concept was in its early stages and included a design not previously built in New Zealand. The application achieved positive feedback in a sustainability capacity, however, funding was not fully established and the project would incur a level of risk to Council.
Response 4 This response included a high-level proposal to develop a car park building with a vertical lifting system. The system is utilised overseas where land area is heavily constricted. The proposal included indicative plans but not a robust analysis of development timeframes in relation to the wider PAP programme. The proposal did not meet the Council’s requirements, in terms of being able to meet the anticipated area demand into the future and the developer’s local experience was limited.

The Council’s 2015 Christchurch Central Parking Plan identified the need for a new off-street parking building, or buildings, in the area north of Cathedral Square to help meet the demand for public parking in the area.

The proposed car park building will service existing and planned facilities north of Cathedral Square, including Te Pae (Convention Centre), Tῡranga, The Court Theatre, Isaac Theatre Royal and The Piano.

The Crown transferred the land to the Council in 2020 as part of the global settlement agreement, with the expectation that a parking building would be built there to help serve the Performing Arts Precinct.

The address of the land is 137-141 Gloucester Street.  The legal description of the land is ‘Lot 1 Deposited Plan 30037 (part), Lot 1 Deposited Plan 1665 (part), Lot 1 Deposited Plan 1858 (part), Lot 1 Deposited Plan 6294 (part), Lot 2 Deposited Plan 1665 (part). The attached map shows the land parcel.

We are consulting under Section 138 of the Local Government Act

Council proof of concept scheme plans per the public RFP in 2020 [PDF, 470 KB](external link)

Community consultation archive

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Who to contact

Sam Sharland,
Engagement Advisor

How the decision is made

  • Decision

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