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.

New Brighton Centre Master Plan [PDF, 4.1 MB].

New Brighton Mall concept

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.

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; progress will depend on the purchase of a final private property. Council and ChristchurchNZ are considering a pilot project to test a laneway-style north-south corridor in the meantime.

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. Phases One and Two are well underway and sales of further stages have opened. Design work and community engagement towards a further housing project located on three vacant sites along Beresford Street have started.

Recovery together (C)

  • (C1) A stronger, active business association: ChristchurchNZ, a number of local businesses and an emerging collective have met, resulting in a number of initiatives being delivered in support of the commercial core. New models for a community-led business support network are also being considered.
  • (C3) Transitional projects and events: ChristchurchNZ is working with Life in Vacant Spaces, who are managing the former Roy Stokes Hall as a creative community hub. ChristchurchNZ has also been supporting placemaking activities in the area, including working with Watch This Space, New Brighton Outdoor Arts Foundation and Ngāi Tahu to develop unique experiences and an activities map that encourages locals and visitors to explore New Brighton and the completed regeneration projects.

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.
  • (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 – see (A2) above.

Land and development (B)

  • (B4) New pedestrian links: The Council completed a pedestrian crossing, as part of the Marine Parade upgrade, in 2018.

Recovery together (C)

  • (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 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 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, since 2015.

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. 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.

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: The Council has allocated funding for land purchase and subsequent delivery in FY2021/22 and FY2026/27 to FY2028/29 respectively.
  • (A4) Brighton Mall upgrade: The Council has allocated funding for delivery in FY2026/27 and FY2027/28, although intends to install some short-term temporary improvements in FY22/23, which can be relocated and reused once the Oram Avenue extension is implemented.
  • (A5) General streetscape enhancements: 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: Housing developments are underway on Seaview Road and Beresford Street. Once completed, they will add at least 200 new residents to the area.
  • (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.

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.

Recovery together (C)

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