Historic blue cottage on chopping block

Wednesday, 4 September 2024

The derelict blue cottage is considered significant for demonstrating “the way of life of Christchurch residents” in the 1870s.

A deteriorating blue cottage in central Christchurch should lose its heritage protection, despite the city council’s objections, an independent panel of experts has said.

If that goes ahead, one of the largest developers in the city can proceed with plans to demolish the 150-year-old cottage and build high density housing on a mostly vacant half-hectare block by Cramner Square.

The Christchurch City Council will have an opportunity to reject this and other recommendations from the panel in December, but if so, it will have to convince RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop (who is also the housing minister) to agree.

Carter Group head Philip Carter says the heritage listing on a deteriorating building on a site he has slated for housing development in Christchurch's CBD should be lifted.

The recommendation followed a staunch public submission from Carter Group owner Philip Carter in April, where he told the panel he’d rather abandon the site than restore the small cottage and called the council “closed-minded”.

Carter bought the site (formerly the Christchurch Girls’ High School block) for $10.7 million in 2021. It borders Cramner Square to the north on Armagh St, and Montreal and Gloucester streets.

The company refused to restore the blue cottage on the grounds that it would be uneconomical (estimated to be about $1.6m), and took issue with the council expert’s argument that those costs could be offset by developing the area around it.

The blue cottage pictured in better times, in 2014.

Carter - who wants to build 54 terraced homes on the site - said the company could not be forced to spend money.

The blue cottage was considered significant for demonstrating “the way of life of Christchurch residents” in the 1870s, according to a 2015 heritage assessment.

A picture in the assessment, dated 2014, shows a bright blue cottage with fresh lawn. A decade on, the walls are covered in graffiti and the front door is ajar.

It is in poor condition due to lack of maintenance and exposure to intruders and vandalism, according to a report commissioned by Carter Group.

The weatherboard is rotting and there is moisture ingress. A section of the west wall, where a chimney used to be, is missing. The ground level and leaf litter has risen over time, affecting the original stone foundations.