Vision for Greater Christchurch one step closer

The Urban Development Strategy (UDS) partners are one step closer to achieving the community vision for a Greater Christchurch, with the release of the report and recommendations on Proposed Change 1 to the Regional Policy Statement, prepared by Environment Canterbury's external Commissioners.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says receiving the Commissioners' report and recommendations is a significant milestone for the UDS partnership and Christchurch City.

"Proposed Change 1 is the foundation document for bringing the UDS vision to life", Mr Parker says. "It's the partnership's collective agreement of how best to share the challenges and benefits of managing growth. The report provides certainty for the UDS partners, developers and the wider community. The importance of this document can't be underestimated for the future of Greater Christchurch."

Proposed Change 1 (PC1) provides a legal basis for the plan agreed by the UDS partners to manage urban growth over 35 years to 2041. PC1 sets out the new areas available for urban development, household densities for new and existing urban areas and land that will remain rural.

Though the report has been released today, Mr Parker says it will take time to work through it, so there would not be any official reaction to the Commissioners' recommendations until their impact was fully understood by the City Council and all the other UDS partners

"Senior planning staff have begun reviewing the recommendations in detail", Mr Parker says. "We will continue to consult with our UDS partners on the document and consider the next steps before making any further statements."

ENDS

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