Tribunal approves Styx Mill development

Press, 16 August 1989, Page 8

Tribunal approves Styx Mill development

By

TOM METCALFE

Work on a 35ha housing development at Styx Mill will begin immediately now that zoning approval has been given by the Planning Tribunal.

The tribunal announced its decision yesterday confirming the residential lifestyle zoning for the development granted by Waimairi District Council in November last year. The development by Carter Group will be called Regent’s Park, and is expected to be valued at $5O million when completed.

The group’s managing director, Mr Philip Carter, said yesterday that tree planting would start immediately, and construction work would start soon after Christmas. The first of 94 sections was expected to be for sale in spring next year, he said.

The tribunal’s decision meant landscape architects, engineers and surveyors could start detailed plans for the development, he said.

He said he hoped tenders for construction work would be let at the end of this year. The development would add $5O million capital r v

value to the city, and would provide plenty of jobs at the development and construction stages, he said.

The sections will vary in size from about 2000 sq m (half an acre) to about 8000 sq m (two acres). Prices will start about $lOO,OOO.

Mr Carter said the sections would be big enough for tennis courts and swimming pools.

It would have all the amenities of city living — a “newpaper at the gate, rubbish collections, and street lighting” — yet there would be spectacular rural views.

Two nearby streams would be redirected to form small lakes and ponds in a park-like setting, and the development would be linked to the neighbouring Styx Mill Basin reserve, which was about half the size of Hagley Park. There had been a lot of interest in the development since it was announced last year, he said.

The Carter Group have developed a number of residential sub-divisions in north-west Christchurch, the largest of which is the 450-section Hyde Park development in Avonhead.