TOWN PLANNING PROBLEM

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22705, 9 May 1939, Page 8

TOWN PLANNING PROBLEM

* Protection for New \ Industries & ASSURANCE OF CONTROL UNDER CITY SCHEME Under the provisions of the Christchurch City Town Planning Scheme it will not be possible for a firm, moving from one area into another for expansion of its business, to find that its former site can be used by, a competitive firm. This was explained in the town planning committee’s report to the Christchurch City Council last evening, in reply to an application from a firm fearing such an eventuality. The report stated: “A letter has been received from a manufacturing firm who, finding it necessary to extend their heavy industrial business, purchased a property in a heavy industrial zone in accordance with the requirements of the Town Planning Scheme, The letter asks that in the event of their selling their present property, which is in a light industrial area, the possible purchaser will not be allowed to commence a heavy industry in opposition to them. Since obtaining information from the town planning officer regarding the location of the heavy industrial zones in Christchurch, they purchased a property with the intention, in the near future, of transferring their works and offices to that site. In the event of the sale of their present property, probably by auction, they would have to consider the possibility of a competitive firm buying and commencing operations there. “Knowing that they would be unable to obtain a permit for any extension of their iron foundry business on the present site, in the way of new buildings or alterations to existing ones, they decided to acquire the new property. They state that they would not like the possibility to arise whereby, through vacating their present works a competitor would rent, lease, or purchase the property with the object of conducting therein a heavy industry and reap a considerable benefit through their goodwill factor, and the great advantage of having all the-buildings ready to start a foundry. “The committee has advised the firm concerned that they will be protected by the council under the provisions of the town planning scheme.”