Little High Eatery developer reveals plans for Lyttelton waterfront

Tuesday, 30 July 2019

The Woolstore at Te Ana Marina in Lyttelton will be developed into a retail and hospitality space.

City centre-style dining is coming to Lyttelton's waterfront.

The developer behind Christchurch's Little High Eatery has announced plans to develop The Woolstore building on Te Ana Marina, turning it into a 'vibrant' hospitality and retail space.

The Peebles Group, headed by Richard Peebles, has played a major role in the revitalisation of the city centre, including the Little High complex and the soon to be opened Riverside farmers' market and retail complex.

The Woolstore overlooks Te Ana Marina at Lyttelton.

Peebles said The Woolstore's rustic character offered 720 square metres of ground floor space and featured views over the marina, car parking, and a pedestrian link connecting Te Ana Marina to Lyttelton.

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The development would include small diverse retail activities, a local bar and restaurant, a gym that could have spin classes on the promenade, and small offices with 'unrivalled' views.

The plans were being finalised and work would commence 'very shortly', Peebles said.

'Lyttelton has so much history and potential, you look out over this world class marina you can almost see the shadow of the first four ships lying at anchor out there.'

Lyttelton Port Company (LPC), which built, owns and manages the marina and associated commercial facilities, completed the 170-berth walk-on floating marina in 2018 and refurbished The Woolstore for commercial tenants.

LPC chief executive Peter Davie said the development would once again open up Lyttelton's waterfront for public use.

'We're excited to see the buzz of restaurants and retail in Lyttelton. Almost all of the 170 floating berths at Te Ana Marina are leased, meaning The Woolstore will already benefit from a captive audience of marina users.'

Deputy mayor and Banks Peninsula ward councillor Andrew Turner said the development represented positive progress at the marina.

'The community has been impressed with the development of the new facilities and the long awaited public waterfront access, which Te Ana provides.'

Lyttelton Harbour Business Association chairman Rob De Thier said the community was excited a group with proven 'nous and ability' would help bring people down to the waterfront.

'They brought people back to the city centre … at the moment all you get down there [at the marina] are dog walkers and people going to their boats.'

The business group had talking with LPC about what was going to go into the old woolstore for about a year, he said.

'It's good to hear it's been signed off. Hopefully they can do it as quickly as possible and get it going.'