Urban Design

The Council is committed to working with the community to rebuild Christchurch as a city for people.

Well-designed buildings and spaces will make Christchurch an attractive and healthy place to live, with strong communities, a healthy environment and a vibrant economy. 

In order to achieve this, the Council:

  • provides a design review service for private developments, to promote good-quality design
  • runs an independent Urban Design Panel made up of leading design professionals
  • develops design guides and case studies illustrating best-practice urban design
  • works with communities to develop and carry out suburban masterplans
  • designs and upgrades public spaces and facilities
  • provides facilitators and runs community workshops for public space projects
  • carries out a programme of transitional projects and provides funding others to carry out transitional projects 
  • supports businesses returning to the central city and suburban centres
  • works with local groups such as Gap Filler, Life in Vacant Spaces, Te Putahi and Greening the Rubble to fund and assist their work.

Christchurch Urban Design Panel

Free, independent design review for private and public sectors, to support the quality rebuild of Christchurch.

Urban design guides

Urban design guides produced by the Council.

Public Space, Public Life study

A 2009 study of central Christchurch by Danish urban designer Jan Gehl.

Banks Peninsula design review panels

Free, independent advice to promote good design and a quality urban environment in Lyttelton.

Christchurch Conversations

Join the conversation about the red zone's future with this series of free events.