Cancer Society wants to sell so it can develop integrated facility

Monday, 26 March 2018

The Cancer Society wants to cash in 246 Manchester St and set up a larger facility for patients and administration.

The Cancer Society is selling its land on Manchester St, central Christchurch, as it moves ahead with construction of a new and larger facility for its Canterbury-West Coast division.

The society has owned the 1530 square metre site at 246 Manchester St since the 1960s.

Until the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes, the property was part of a complex housing its main patient accommodation, divisional cancer services and administration operations.

After the earthquakes, the Cancer Society moved to alternative sites and the Manchester St building was demolished.

* Cancer Society seeks land for new home after losing buildings to the earthquakes

Jonathan Lyttle of Savills' Christchurch office is now marketing the vacant site, on two titles on the corner of Manchester and Kilmore Streets, for sale by tender closing on April 12.

'This is a great piece of land on one of the main arterial routes through central Christchurch. There has been plenty of rebuild activity in the immediate locality in the past few years, making it an up-and-coming area with some major projects already complete and more in progress.'

The site is roughly half way between the central city retail precinct and Bealey Ave, and opposite the new rental car precinct.

It is also close to the Forté Health building, the Margaret Mahy Family Playground, East Frame and the Avon River.

Lyttle said it benefits from a high-profile corner on a busy road, making it attractive as a potential site for a retail or commercial development.

'The development of the East Frame housing project will provide a big boost for businesses in this part of the city, with a strong local resident population in the immediate vicinity.'

Central city mixed use zoning means the site could be used for a wide range of activities including retail, office, residential, community facilities, entertainment, recreation, education, and healthcare.

Elizabeth Chesterman, chief executive of the Canter Society's Canterbury-West Coast Division, said the organisation is progressing well in its search for land on which to build a new facility.

'We're looking at a number of options to meet our growing needs into the future and we're hoping we will be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.

'The Manchester Street site is too small for our future requirements so we have made the decision to sell it. It's a beautiful site in a great location and it holds a lot of history for our organisation. We're sad to be letting it go, but we would love to see it redeveloped for the benefit of the local community.'

The purchase of a suitable site, and eventual construction of a new facility, will bring the Cancer Society's Canterbury-West Coast administration, patient accommodation and support services together under one roof for the first time since before the Canterbury earthquakes.

This will result in a more efficient service for cancer patients and their families, in a purpose-designed, modern building.

The organisation in Christchurch has been spread across four separate sites since the earthquakes - two accommodation facilities, the hospital centre and a city office building.

'Over the past few years it has become clear that our existing buildings are not fully meeting our needs, especially as we are facing increased demand for our services,' Chesterman said.

A key part of the Cancer Society's service to patients is providing free accommodation, with patients from north of the Waitaki Valley, Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast, receiving treatment at Christchurch Hospital.

Currently, this accommodation is provided in two former motel properties in Merivale and Riccarton. Constructing a purpose-built facility with enough additional rooms to meet growing demand is the ultimate goal.

'Patients often find that being able to share their journey with others going through the same thing really helps.

'In our accommodation, they have the opportunity for companionship when they want it.'

The Cancer Society's accommodation services are consistently fully booked, with almost 800 South Islanders receiving cancer treatment in Cancer Society facilities over the past 12 months.

'Unfortunately, current facilities are not adequate for the number of referrals received. Staff and volunteers are constantly challenged to find suitable alternatives for out of town patients and their families.'