Environment Canterbury to sell costly, heritage Odeon Theatre building in Christchurch

Thursday, 26 June 2025

The Odeon building in 2012 after the earthquakes.

Christchurch’s historic Odeon Theatre building will be sold later in the year along with vacant land alongside.

Environment Canterbury (ECan) councillors voted on Wednesday to sell the property, part of a bigger site the council bought next to its Tuam St headquarters for $2.95 million in 2020.

ECan will keep the Lawrie and Wilson building next to the Odeon, after spending $2.2m strengthening and restoring it to accommodate some staff, as well as land it uses for vehicle parking.

The old theatre now, propped up behind screening. The smaller Lawrie and Wilson building next door will stay in ECan ownership.

A staff report presented to councillors recommended selling the unused Odeon building and surplus vacant land on the corner of Manchester St by tender.

It recommended against keeping or leasing the property, or ECan doing its own development.

ECan has given its reasons for the original purchase as controlling development around its headquarters next door, preserving options for future developments and staff accommodation, and preserving significant heritage buildings.

A council report released to The Press after the purchase said it also wanted to create an “environmental precinct” by “bringing together Canterbury’s environmental organisations in one place to foster collaboration, education and innovation“.

ECan has already stabilised the old Odeon Theatre at cost of $1.2m, and it is now propped up and screened off.

The former theatre was put on the Dirty 30 list of buildings by the city council.

Previously it sat behind a wall of shipping containers and on the city council’s “Dirty 30’ list of sites considered to be holding back the city’s rebuild.

In 2023 ECan unsuccessfully sought interest from developers wanting to develop the property and produce income as part of a public-private partnership.

The ornate 1883 theatre building consists of the facade, lower and upper foyers, and staircase, and has the highest level of heritage protection. The badly damaged stage, backstage, fly towers seating areas were demolished in 2012.

Cr Grant Edge said they had been unable to do more with the building despite efforts which unfortunately did not gain traction.

Cr Grant Edge, right, spoke in favour of selling.

They now want to achieve “a best use for the land” while also returning money to ECan, Edge said.

“I don’t think continuing to hold it, or for the regional council to develop the land itself, is viable, and would be costly.

“In my view, the economic situation has changed. Central city investment is growing and the Te Kaha stadium down the road is on the verge of opening, and this little corner of Christchurch is rich in heritage.

“I am hopeful … that a developer of repute will seize the opportunity to build a corner landmark building, incorporating the resteored heritage elements of the Odeon.”

Cr Deon Swiggs said it was “a shame we’ve got to the stage where we’ve got to now”, but with heritage protections in place a developer could turn it into a useable space.

“Property development isn’t the business of this council.”

Cr Nick Ward said so far the property had cost ECan around $8 million.

“Sometimes unfortunately the first loss is the best loss, and you just need to move on. I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow.”

Cr Joe Davies cast the single vote opposing the sale, saying the property has strategic value for the council.

ECan will not necessarily accept the highest bid for the property, and can take other factors into account.

Retaining the property is costing between $350,000 and $400,000 a year, which is not budgeted for in the regional council’s 2024-34 long-term plan.

ECan will now have the property subdivided and valued, before seeking tenders.