Why is the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan needed?

In 2022, the Greater Christchurch Partnership and the Crown established an Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch – the Whakawhanake Kāinga Komiti. The partnership is focused on shared objectives related to affordable housing, emissions reduction, and creating liveable and resilient urban areas. The first priority of the partnership is to develop the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan.

The purpose of the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan is to:

• Set a desired urban form for a projected population of 700,000 (to 2051) and beyond that to 1 million people to ensure Greater Christchurch is future-proofed in the context of population growth and climate change.
• Deliver the top priority of the Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch to develop a Spatial Plan that coordinates and aligns the aspirations of central government, local government and mana whenua.
• Satisfy the requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development for the Greater Christchurch Councils to jointly prepare a Future Development Strategy.