‘Englishness’ kept in inner-city plan

Press, 20 November 1987, Page 9

‘Englishness’ kept in inner-city plan

By

GLEN PERKINSON

property reporter A radical proposal for the heart of Christchurch city could see pedestrians given priority over traffic and property development and exploitation of historic buildings and spaces severely restricted.

The proposal, designed by city planners, architects and heritage groups, is still being formed but will be opened for public discussion and acceptance. Mr Peter Beaven, a spokesman for the group behind the design proposal, said it was "a marvellous urban design plan for the city and will establish a design code for the central areas.” For several weeks the individual groups in the working party have investigated ways of improving the central city environment and preserving its heritage.

Those recommendations were released yesterday by Mr Beaven. The groups involved were the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury branches of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and Landscape Architects, the Civic Trust

and the Historic Places Trust. The final plan will empower the City Council to govern the development, design and appearance of the inner city and its buildings. The working party has marked buildings, spaces and interest points of historic and special benefit to the city for preservation. The central area bounded by Cashel Street, the Avon River and the eastern side of Manchester Street has been designated the inner precinct. In that precinct “pedestrians will take precedence over cars,” Mr

Beaven said. “It is envisaged that existing access ways for pedestrians will be improved and new ones created. The group will also ensure that sunlight is encouraged.” Changes would be made to the zoning of the re-

maining inner-city area outside the precinct and within the four avenues. "It will become a mixed-use zone,” Mr Beaven said. “The possibilities of development will be enlarged from what is allowed under the present zoning but the controls on that development will be stricter.” Concerns have been expressed by the group that an “aggregation of tall buildings” is occurring. Mr Beaven said the proposal was not against height but the collection of “huge, monolithic, sites.”

“We do not want to see the inner city dominated by groups of tall buildings. The tradition of the city has been that of a low one. Most of the tall buildings never went above six levels. The average height of buildings in the city today is still six storeys.”

Inner-city residential living will be encouraged, more facades will be preserved, the scale of development will be kept in keeping with present heights, according to the draft plan. Other factors to be highlighted would be trees and the. “Englishness” of the city. Mr Beaven observed that it would have economic spin-offs for central Christchurch. “The tourist routes are mostly following the areas where there is historic interest and if these advantages are retained, there will be continued

economic benefit to the city,” he said. The proposal will be shown on a three-dimen-sional model which will be put on public display. “If the public want this planning scheme then it will become law,” Mr Beaven said.