New location, bigger supermarket part of New Brighton vision

Friday, 10 July 2026

Plans for a much larger supermarket in a new location have resurfaced as part of efforts to revive New Brighton, with developers saying the suburb has long had demand for a store more than twice the size of the existing Woolworths.

The proposal was included in a progress update on the New Brighton Master Plan presented to the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board this week.

The master plan lists a supermarket relocation as a project led by property owners and developers. It is marked as “not yet commenced”, with the council noting it is in discussions with property owners and developers.

Christchurch City Council head of planning and consents Mark Stevenson said the plan involved multiple stakeholders and details could not yet be released because of commercial sensitivities.

While Woolworths said it had no plans to relocate, a prominent local developer said economic studies commissioned for the council found New Brighton could support a supermarket of about 4000m² – more than double the size of the existing 1800m² store.

Martini Investments director Robbie Harris said a larger supermarket could keep more grocery spending in New Brighton while acting as an anchor for surrounding retail development.

“There’s a known demand there,” Harris said.

He described the idea as an “incredible” opportunity that could be “a major addition to the local economy and urban layout”.

However, he stressed there was no active project.

“At this stage, there’s no active conversation [from our side] with the supermarket.”

Harris said any proposal would first require enough adjoining land to be assembled before discussions with a supermarket operator could begin.

A Woolworths spokesperson said the company was committed to New Brighton and had recently invested in refurbishing the Hawke St store, including rebranding from Countdown to Woolworths late last year.

“We are always open to engaging with local councils and community boards to ensure we meet the needs of the communities we serve.”

Harris said relocating the supermarket further inland could free up prime beachfront land for smaller retailers, hospitality and recreation while creating a stronger commercial hub behind it.

Community board Coastal ward representative Alex Hewison said relocating the supermarket had been considered as a way to unlock a beach-front food and entertainment precinct.

He said progress had been slower than hoped since the master plan was adopted in 2015, but believed the suburb was entering a new phase of redevelopment.

“From my perspective, by the end of 2026 New Brighton will be a completely different space.”

Meanwhile, progress is being made on six derelict or underused properties the Christchurch City Council says are holding back investment in the suburb.

The council confirmed staff have now contacted all owners of the identified sites, and while no consents for work had been received yet, the “majority are engaging positively towards discussing site intentions”.

Case management and relationships team leader Jo Anderson said the council’s biggest focus since taking over New Brighton’s urban development programme from ChristchurchNZ had been working directly with private landowners.

Stevenson said the council had limited powers if owners chose not to act.

“Unless buildings are deemed unsafe or insanitary, the council is unable to take regulatory action.”

In May, The Press revealed the owners of several prominent vacant sites argued boarded-up buildings were only one part of the problem, pointing instead to high construction costs, fragmented land ownership and uncertainty over future development.

The New Brighton master plan update also showed work has begun on new residential development and pedestrian links, while planning continues on a new bus interchange. Brighton Mall upgrades remain on track, with construction expected to begin next month, and the council said other projects were also progressing.

“The mall wastewater upgrade project is scheduled to begin in August; momentum is strong with some projects nearing completion,” Stevenson said.

The council is also tendering for mechanical upgrades to the library’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.