Church Property Trustees provides memorandum to court on timeline and decision making process for ChristChurch Cathedral

Church Property Trustees (CPT) today entered a memorandum to the high court covering an approximate timetable and decision making process on the ChristChurch Cathedral.

It states:

• Different cathedral design concepts will be prepared for consideration and then a selection made for further development and engagement. The options to be prepared will be based around future building options and will likely reflect the broad options for deconstruction and building, namely:

a. maximum retention and a replica rebuild;

b. partial deconstruction and a mix of 'old and new' based around the current footprint; and

c. more extensive deconstruction and a building with more elements of the new.

• The memorandum sets out the engagement the Church will continue to do with CERA, Christchurch City Council, Historic Places Trust and also the public through the on-going public conversation with the “Cathedral Conversation” document.

• The first step of the process is for CPT to provide a copy of the Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT) building retention proposal to CERA for review. CPT's own engineers will also be further considering deconstruction options. The following is the timetable that is hoped to be followed after that, although that is subject to change depending on how matters progress:

o 6 December - CPT will meet to consider and provide direction on design work to the Cathedral Project Group

o December - the Cathedral Project Group will advance the design brief with the architects.

o Early January 2013 - It is hoped CPT will receive feedback from CERA and its own engineering review of deconstruction options as well as feedback from the Cathedral Project Group on the work it is undertaking.

o Late January 2013 - CPT will provide direction for cathedral design concept(s) to be developed in further detail, based on consideration of financial implications and cost of options, as well as consideration of heritage, safety and engineering matters, including options for deconstruction. It is hoped something at this point can be released to the public for feedback.

o End of February 2013 – after engagement with CERA, the Christchurch City Council, Historic Places Trust and public it is hoped that the final decision by the CPT on the future of the Cathedral building may be made.

ENDS

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