Confining sprawl

Press, 8 December 1976, Page 12

Confining sprawl

Christchurch, although large by New Zealand standards, is still small enough to permit living where one chooses and travelling to work anywhere in the city without excessive travelling time,

says the Canterbury Regional Planning Authority’s indicative plan for population growth planning. On its growth rate of 1.4 per cent a year, the population of Christchurch has risen by more than 35,000 between 1966 and 1976. The city covers 15,000 ha (36,000 acres) of which more than 2000 ha (5600 acres) is not yet in urban use. The bulk of this land, the plan says, is low-lying, on the hills or in scattered, small parcels. The demand will continue for some time for the single house on its own section. In the last 10 years. 45 per cent of the suburban building permits have been for single detached houses, and 10 per cent for multiunit dwellings. Where redevelopment has taken place, 30 per cent of the permits have been for multiple units, and 15 per cent for single units. The' plan praises the work done by the Christchurch City Council in urban renewal, but says the work is limited by lack of Government money and high costs. The plan "eliminates” urban renewal as a major factor in remaking the city to accept more population. Councils on the periphery of Christchurch are under constant pressure to breach the urban fence, characteristically to the west, such as at Rdydvale Avenue, Withells Road and Sparks Road; to the east, on the Travis Swamp land and at Bottle Lake; and to the south, on the Port Hills.

The plan says there is immediate need to advise councils to resist low-

density housing growth on rural land round Christchurch, and some of the country towns.

Urban Christchurch has reached a “threshold geographic size" beyond which, the plan says, it is inevitable that its character and functioning will alter if peripheral growth is permitted. The City Council’s redevelopment plans, though playing only a small part m the short term, are vital to planning for the region, but means are necessary' to help accelerate public and private contribution to redevelopment. In addition to the renewal schemes and planning changes to encourage stability and confidence in the older residential blocks, the plan suggests central zone residential rate reviews, the encouragement of the mixed use of buildings, the stabilisation of commercial and industrial zones, mortgage help to rehabilitate and buy older homes and a mix of higher density comprehensive residential building away from the city centre.

Policies might be prepared for the early release of some of the 400 ha of land within the deferred urban fence, to encourage early development of urban-zoned land that is privately-owned, and for rating reviews to encourage its early use, the encouragement of mediumdensity housing in appropriate places and .for employment and community facilities in the newer suburbs. The plan says there is need for much more study as to the suitability of the Port Hills, Banks Peninsula and the Lyttelton Harbour basin for urban use.