7 April 2005
Turners & Growers development proposal agreed
Christchurch City Council has agreed to a Development Agreement with Urban Winery Holdings Ltd (UWH) which provides for
UWH to purchase part of the block of land known as the Turners and Growers site and develop a “central city urban
village”.
Once the Development Agreement is signed UWH would have six months to prepare a Development Plan which would contain
detailed plans and specifications of the proposed development, including the company’s proposed building programme and
arrangements to secure finance for the project. The purchase price paid by UWH would be at least $6 million with the
ultimate return to the Council depending on the value of subsequent property sales. Payment would be spread over a
period of up to five years.
The original Turners and Growers site, which comprised 17,546m2, was purchased by Council in July 2002 for $3.68
million. Since that time Council has received revenue from the site of $1.09 million. Under this proposal the area to be
purchased would be 13,100m2 (note: on the original purchase price this would equate to $2.7 million) which includes
810m2 for the through way and 2,620m2 for the village green but excludes the public space which would be retained by
Council (see attached plans).
Once completed the estimated $80 million development could return between $200,000 and $300,000 per year in rates to the
city.
The Council would contribute $2.5 million to the project and surrounding area by: The demolition of existing buildings
and site clearance including the removal of possible contaminated soil Applying funds committed to an “inner city park”
for landscaping of the public space and village green Adjacent street improvements which will occur during the life of
the project and would have been undertaken irrespective of the proposal Last November, the Council accepted UWH as the
preferred bidder. UWH has worked with Council staff to produce more detailed plans and the agreement for development.
Dave Hinman, Council’s Central City Team Leader, says the proposal provides for residential accommodation, a hotel with
operating winery, a retail market square, basement car parking, and a public space which runs between Lichfield and Tuam
Streets, opens on to a “village area” and connects to Madras Street with a through way.
“UWH have provided a design which complies as fully as possible with planning requirements to minimise the risk of
delays to the project which could occur if resource consent applications were required,” Mr Hinman said. “However, UWH
is keen to work with neighbouring property owners to ensure a design which takes into account their current activities
and planned developments.”
The Council has rezoned the area around the Turners and Growers site to allow residential development to occur. This
proposal is seen as a catalyst for further development in the area.
“This is another step in revitalising our central city. It’s a proposal which both complements and integrates with
what’s happening in the area, particularly Lichfield Lanes and links into High Street,” says Garry Moore, Mayor of
Christchurch.
“It successfully meets the objectives the Council and Central City Mayoral Forum had for the site. Not only will it help
to increase the number of people living in the central city, it has the makings of a unique attraction in the eastern
part of our central city for residents and visitors to Christchurch.” UWH expect the development to take between five
and seven years depending on the actual rate of demand for residential accommodation.
ENDS