The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan was approved by the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Hon Gerry Brownlee and gazetted in July 2012.
The vision in the Recovery Plan is that Central Christchurch will become the thriving heart of an international city. A central city that will attract people to live, work, play, learn, stay and invest and be:
- vibrant, well-formed with a compact 'core'
- safe, accessible to everyone and responsive to future changes.
Through its Blueprint Plan, the Recovery Plan outlines how the vision can be achieved in three ways:
- defining the form of the central city
- setting out the locations of key anchor projects to encourage investment and growth
- outlining block plans to show what the city could look like in the future.
The community's aspirations for a green, vibrant, accessible and prosperous city are reflected through the Blueprint Plan, the anchor projects, and other projects included in the Recovery Plan.
Christchurch Central Recovery Plan
The Blueprint Plan
The Blueprint Plan shows the new central city layout and defines the locations of anchor projects.
The Blueprint Plan (A3 version) (PDF, 3MB)
The Blueprint Plan (A0 version) (PDF, 5MB)
The Recovery Plan directed changes to the Christchurch City Council's District Plan.
Additions and amendments to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan
An Accessible City
The An Accessible City transport chapter is an addendum to the Recovery Plan replacing the previous transport chapter and came into effect in October 2013.
It outlines a central city transport system that will provide a range of travel options that are flexible and resilient.
An Accessible City (PDF, 5MB)
A Liveable City
Successful cities need attractive central city neighbourhoods with diverse communities to support business growth and development, and bring life to the city centre.
A Liveable City is the residential chapter of the Recovery Plan and came into effect in January 2015.
It puts forward a vision and objectives for central city living, along with revised provisions to Christchurch City Council's District Plan and several initiatives to stimulate the development of housing and communities.
A Liveable City Residential Chapter (PDF, 3MB)
Addendums to the Recovery Plan
In December 2014, two addendums to Recovery Plan were approved by the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery through the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011. The addendums made changes to the Christchurch City Council's District Plan.
Noise and Entertainment Provisions
One of the aims of the Recovery Plan is to encourage central city living which is important to the vitality and functioning of the central city. The entertainment and hospitality sector is also an important component of central city life.
It is necessary to manage the interaction of these difference types of activity. The Noise and Entertainment Provisions for the central city are designed to strike a good balance that successfully manages this through amendments to Christchurch City Council's District Plan.
Noise and Entertainment Provisions Addendum (PDF, 2MB)
South Frame
The Recovery Plan created a Blueprint Plan for the city (see above) including a 'Frame' surrounding a commercial core and the location of various anchor projects in the central city.
This addendum defines the South Frame as an anchor project.
The South Frame incorporates the Health and Innovation Precincts and provides for a range of buildings in an accessible, open landscape.
The addendum also requires the Christchurch City Council's District Plan to include the Central City (South Frame) mixed use zone provisions.
South Frame addendum (PDF, 2MB)
Partial Revocation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and subsequent addendum (August 2019)
The Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Hon Dr Megan Woods announced on 23 August 2019 that she had approved the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan (Regeneration Plan) and the partial revocation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan under sections 38 and 58 respectively of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016.
Part of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and part of the Regeneration Plan would have applied to the same area of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.
The partial revocation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and resulting addendum (August 2019) avoids the potential for inconsistencies and confusion.
Both the Regeneration Plan and the Partial Revocation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan were developed by Regenerate Christchurch.
Partial Revocation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan (PDF, 4MB)
Addendum to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan (PDF, 268.75 KB)
Reference copies of both the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan and the addendum to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan (resulting from the approval of the Partial Revocation of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan) are available at Christchurch City Council service centres and libraries, and at the main office of Selwyn and Waimakariri District Councils.
More about the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan.
Amendments to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan in respect of mitigating and managing noise from the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena
The Associate Minister of Finance with responsibility for greater Christchurch regeneration matters, Hon Dr Megan Woods decided on 14 December 2021 to approve the amendments to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, under section 38 of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016.
The amendments were proposed by the Christchurch City Council and:
- strengthen the policy direction in respect to CMUA noise effects;
- add conditions to the designation for the CMUA to manage and mitigate noise, such as noise limits for concerts, number of concerts and finishing times;
- increase the area of the central city around the CMUA requiring acoustic insulation for new "sensitive activities" (including residential buildings); and
- increase the standard of acoustic insulation that applies.
The amendments take effect on 20 January 2022.
For more information refer to the documents below:
- Report on Decisions Made in Approving the Amendments to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan in Respect of the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (PDF, 448KB)
- Amendments to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan in respect of mitigating and managing noise from the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (PDF, 13.75MB)
- Public notice (PDF, 72KB)