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
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 land and demolishing the former Westpac building on 56 Brighton Mall. The site has been temporarily activated as a pedestrian walkway and community space featuring a community-delivered mural on its western side, planter boxes and a bike stand in anticipation of ChristchurchNZ-supported activation activities in the coming months. Both organisations are working together to information-gather, to aid decision-making around design of the future north-south corridor.
(A4) Brighton Mall upgrade: Staff have completed site investigations and progressed scheme and furniture designs, working closely with Whitiora regarding the cultural aspects of the project and the Better for Brighton working group on the interface between the mall and adjoining private development sites. Better for Brighton, comprising representatives of ChristchurchNZ, the Council, a private developer and the Greater New Brighton Charitable Trust, was established to coordinate and provide oversight of their respective projects occurring within Brighton Mall.
(A5) General streetscape enhancements: In addition to resurfacing Seaview Road in a manner consistent with other master plan-related streetscape upgrades, the Council's Gateway to New Brighton project also converts the existing roundabout east of the Pages Road bridge 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. Having sought and heard public submissions, the Council approved the scheme design in August 2024. The project is still subject to statutory approvals.
Land and development (B)
(B1) New residential development: Stages Two and Three of the Te Pākau Maru residential development at 55 Beresford Street have commenced, with Stage Two expected to be completed in mid-2025. More information(external link)
(B5) Car parking improvements: ChristchurchNZ continues to work with landowners affected by extension of the City Vacant Differential Rating to New Brighton (see 'Completed actions' below) and is now completing a transport assessment which will have some consideration of parking needs and help inform future decision-making for the centre.
Recovery together (C)
(C3) Transitional projects and events: ChristchurchNZ has been supporting placemaking activities in the area, including the New Brighton Online refresh, a local food market pilot and progress on a local cultural tour. The Greater New Brighton Charitable Trust has obtained Resource Consent for the establishment of a Village Green, including 14 beach-style huts, a stage, lawn area and landscaping, until such time as the site (27 and 31 Brighton Mall) is redeveloped.
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 a temporary cycle stand opposite Carnaby Lane in 2023. The stand was relocated in early 2025 to 56 Brighton Mall as part of the activation of that site prior to the full implementation of the new north-south corridor project. See 'Current projects' above.
(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. It completed Stage Two and installed a public artwork by local artist Jon Jett on the reserve in 2024. Te Pākau Maru completed Stage One of its residential development at 55 Beresford Street in early 2025, delivering 25 new homes.
(B4) New pedestrian links: The Council completed a pedestrian crossing, as an early part of the Marine Parade upgrade, in 2018.
(B5) Car parking improvements: The Council extended the use of City Vacant Differential Rating to New Brighton in its LTP 2024 - 2034, reflecting the extent of vacant land in the commercial centre. Well-maintained sites in planning-compliant temporary uses are exempt and remissions are available where property owners improve the visual amenity of their sites in line with the Council's Vacant Site Improvement Guide.
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 delivery of an events assessment to consider gaps and a future strategy in 2023 and supported the Driftwood Council of Brighton (DCOB) to deliver ‘Good Guides’ in 2023 and 2024. The DCOB delivered a project to brighten shop fronts with new local branding in 2023 and created a website, Facebook page, series of postcards and delivered its first community event in 2024.
(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 'Good Guides' in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
(C3) Transitional projects and events: The Council, ChristchurchNZ and community has completed transitional projects since 2015. These included the Tiny Huts, Recreate, Re:Activate and Pump Track, the Bubble mural and other public artworks on buildings and utility cabinets in the commercial core and the Good Vibes market in the Roy Stokes Hall. Life in Vacant Spaces completed handover of the Roy Stokes Hall to Youth Alive (a New Brighton Trust that purchased the building from ChristchurchNZ to continue its use as a community space), in 2024. It also delivered Art Windows in partnership with ArtStart in 2024, which saw the artwork of young creatives displayed in vacant shop windows on Marine Parade.
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 the New Brighton Business and Landowner Association between 2015 and 2019, with funding for coordination. More recently, ChristchurchNZ has been supporting the reemergence of a new business association, which completed a census of all the businesses in the commercial core in 2025 with assistance from ChristchurchNZ. Another local organisation, the Driftwood Council of Brighton (formerly named The Town Team), continues to meet and has been working on several small-scale projects to build community connection and inspire local pride. 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: See 'Current Projects' and ‘Completed actions’ 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.
(A4) Brighton Mall upgrade: See ‘Current projects’ above.
(A5) General streetscape enhancements: See 'Current projects' and ‘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: See 'Current projects' above. 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.
