Developers' new plans for south frame land in central Christchurch

Friday, 8 November 2019

Christchurch's south frame is made up of public spaces and laneways, with new developments being built around it. (Video first published November 2019)

A hotel, an apartment building and a childcare centre are among developments planned for Crown sell-off sites in central Christchurch's south frame.

With the public laneways three-quarters finished in the south frame, land around newly created Matai Common between Colombo and Durham streets is being parcelled off to chosen developers.

The block is the central piece of the south frame, a key anchor rebuild project where the Crown had bought up sites on three blocks to create a central accessway and side lanes.

The Laneway Apartments are being advertised for sale.

Crown company Ōtākaro has now sold one surplus Tuam St site to VMJ Investment for new apartments for $1.4 million, and another to Home Estate Ltd for a hotel for $2m, while a third is under contract to a childcare centre builder.

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An artist's image of the childcare centre planned by EduBuild for the Tuam St and Sugarloaf Lane corner.

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The three neighbouring sites are opposite the justice and emergency services precinct and back onto Mollett St and Matai Common.

To qualify as purchasers, would-be buyers must meet criteria including developing something to bring people into the area, and agreeing to build promptly rather than land-banking.

The planned 84-room hotel with 9 apartments, to be built on the corner of Tuam St and Te Puhoe Lane, in the south frame.

The corner of Tuam St and Sugarloaf Lane has been bought by developers VMJ Investment, which has resource consent for a six-storey apartment block.

The building, Laneway Apartments, will have shops and parking at street level, with 44 apartments being offered for pre-sale off the plans at $445,000 to $575,000.

VMJ's sole director and shareholder is Mengni Bai of Auckland.

On the corner of Tuam St and Te Pohue Lane, owner Home Estate Ltd is planning a six-storey hotel with 84 rooms and nine apartments. Shops and the hotel lobby will be on the ground floor.

A resource consent bid for the project is on hold before the council as it awaits more information.

Like the apartment building proposed for next door, it will be stepped back from Matai Common at the upper levels to reduce shading.

Home Estate Ltd's director and shareholder, Nick Gee, was one of the developers behind the $50m Verve Apartments plan dropped earlier this year.

Next to VMJ's apartment site is land under contract to EduBuild Ltd, which has links with childcare centre operator BestStart Educare.

EduBuild has applied to council for resource consent for build a three-storey childcare centre for up 120 children and 19 staff, to be open between 6.30am and 6.30pm.

Ōtākaro is also selling other sites in the block, including one between St Asaph St and Matai Common that is understood to have received interest from another accommodation developer.

Recent developments in the block include the Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery School and The Yard hospitality and office building.

The south frame development is part of the rebuild blueprint for Christchurch and requires the buy-up of private land to create the laneways. The western block of the project has been delayed by land aquisition issues and is likely to be completed next year.