The city's central business district is directly linked to the liveability of the city as a whole. The central city provides the focus for economic, social and cultural activities that are important for economic growth and the community's sense of place.

A vibrant & prosperous business centre

The recovery of our central city is vital for the recovery of Christchurch as a whole, and will enable us continue to grow as a great place to work, live, invest and do business. The Council is focused on the need to create a central city that supports and promotes confidence in retail, tourism, hospitality and office and general commercial sectors. 

Key Points

  • The earthquakes resulted in a 44% loss of employment in the central city, mostly from the area inside the cordon. Since 2012, the number of employees in the central city has increased by 3,500.
  • Prior to 2010, the proportion of the City’s businesses and employment in the central city had been declining over time. The earthquakes exacerbated this trend with a consequent decrease between 2011 - 2012 of 34% and 41%, respectively.
  • In 2013, the proportion of employees working in the central city began to stabilise and has continued to grow throughout 2015.
  • Accommodation capacity in the central city was significantly impacted by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. Hotel numbers experienced the most significant impact, with an 85% decline between 2010 and 2012. Since 2013, accommodation capacity has begun to rise again across the board.
  • Since 2012, there has been around 430,000 square metres of new commercial floorspace consented in the central city. 
Total Employees in the Central City
 
Proportion of Business in the Central City
   
Source: Statistics NZ, Longitudinal Business Frame
 
Source: Statistics NZ, Longitudinal Business Frame
Accommodation in the Central City
 
New Central City Floorspace
 Accommodation Capacity    Floor Space
Source: Stastistics NZ, Accomodation Survey
 
Source: CCC, Building Consent Records

 

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Christchurch Central Recovery Plan: The vision is for central Christchurch to be vibrant and well-formed, to attract people to live, work, play, learn, stay and invest. 

More people live in the central city

People living in the central city is essential to support business growth and development and create a high level of activity. Our central city is a key residential growth area as part of a shift towards higher density urban living. 

Key Points

  • There was an increasing number of people living in the central city between 1991 and 2006, with an additional 2,100 people and 120 households since 1981. The majority of people resided in the Avon Loop area unit.
  • The February earthquakes impacted significantly on people living in the central city; since 2006 the resident population of the central city has fallen from 7650 to 4900 in 2013.
  • It is estimated that as at June 2015, the central city population had increased to 5,200 usual residents.
  • The number of occupied dwellings showed a similar trend post-earthquake, down 37% since 2006.
  • Pre-earthquake household growth was in one family and one person households, with the number of multi-person households declining. Since the earthquakes, all household types have declined by about a third.
  • The majority of dwellings in the central city are townhouses, flats or apartments, with separate houses representing only a fifth of the central city's dwellings. 
  • Since 2011, there has been around 400 new residential dwellings consented in the central city and around 400 replacement dwellings.
Estimated Population for the Central City
  
Household Composition
     household composition
Source: Statistics NZ, Population Projections
  
Source: Statistics NZ, Census of Population & Dwellings
Central City Dwelling Types
  
New Residential Building Consents
 Dwelling Type    
Source: Statistics NZ, Census of Population & Dwellings
  
Source: CCC, Building Consents Records

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Dwelling & Household Estimates: Estimates of all private dwellings in New Zealand at a given date, and estimates of all households usually living in New Zealand at a given date.

A Liveable City: A Liveable City is the residential chapter of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan. It puts forward a vision and objectives for central city living, along with revised District Plan provisions and several initiatives to stimulate the development of housing and communities.

The central city has distinctive character and identity

The identity of a city is derived from its built form, its amenity and heritage values, and the relationship with natural and physical resources. It is the unique relationship between these resources that sets a city apart from others and reinforces both individual and community perceptions of place. Christchurch's central city has a variety of forms that contribute to its identity and sense of place and as the rebuild continues our central city will continue to evolve as a distinctive and unique place.

Measures for this outcome are currently under development. More information will be available at a later date.

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Heritage in the City: Buildings and public art, such as clocks, memorials, statues and fountains, are part of the heritage of our city. They give us a real sense of how the city has grown as well as commemorating our past, present and future.

Christchurch Central Recovery Plan: The vision is for central Christchurch to be vibrant and well-formed, to attract people to live, work, play, learn, stay and invest. 

Used by a wide range of people and activities

A liveable central city is one that offers a variety of attractions and opportunities to its residents and visitors. It puts community life at the forefront of its planning, and has an overall focus on vibrancy, health, attractiveness, sustainability and safety.

Measures for this outcome are currently under development. More information will be available at a later date.

More Detail & Information

Christchurch Central Recovery Plan:  The vision is for central Christchurch to be vibrant and well-formed, to attract people to live, work, play, learn, stay and invest.