A push is underway by city leaders determined to stimulate investment, support growth and build confidence in Christchurch’s city centre.

A Central City Action Plan is being put together with those who already live and do business in the central city.

People relaxing in Cathedral Square.

“We all know that the key to a thriving central city is people. We need people living, working, visiting and doing business in the central city,’’ says Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

“One way to achieve this is to utilise the passion and experience of those who have already made that call. Living in the heart of the city is special, and the retail and hospitality experience is unique. We need these people to help shape the action plan.”

The stimulus for this work has been a report from Regenerate Christchurch on the progress of central city regeneration, alongside some of the cross-agency revitalisation work already underway.

The recent economic monitoring work done as part of ChristchurchNZ’s latest Quarterly Economic Update has also fed into this work.

The Council is viewing this as a call to action and is seeking to coordinate new and existing activity across regeneration agencies and the private sector.

The Action Plan will not only focus on encouraging residential development in the central city and making it an attractive place for people to live, it will also look at how investment in the central city can be strengthened and an environment created where businesses can thrive. There will also be a focus on events that will draw people into the city centre.

“It is all about creating a reason to come to town and spend time there.”

The Action Plan will also address how the central city can be marketed nationally and internationally.

“The Action Plan sets the scene and provides clarity on what’s needed to continue the momentum in the central city. It’s absolutely vital we continue to work in partnership with businesses and residents to do this,” says Mayor Dalziel.

A report outlining the proposed work on the Action Plan and seeking Council’s endorsement of the approach will be considered by the Council this week.

Read the report.

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