Old Post Office owner rues development ‘roadblocks’
The owner of Cathedral Square’s historic Old Post Office has hit out at city council redevelopment ‘‘roadblocks’’.
The Christchurch City Council seemed ‘‘more intent on creating paperwork by insisting on more and more expert advice rather than allowing my engineers and builders to get on with the job of sensibly addressing the damage,’’ Gordon Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain has been outspoken about the square’s redevelopment, previously saying he was ‘‘disappointed’’ by the lack of progress.
He had ‘‘ongoing issues’’ with the council over his building. ‘‘I’ve been trying to progress a start on the reconstruction of the building, but everything I suggest to council ends in a road block,’’ he said.
A council spokeswoman said staff held a pre-application meeting with Chamberlain’s architect and engineer, but the council had not received consent applications.
Chamberlain said: ‘‘I am annoyed that after seven years of insurance wrangles, now settled, I now have to do battle with the council, who I believe are quite happy to drag things out with paperwork,’’ he said.
The council spokeswoman said the Old Post Office building was listed as a ‘‘group one’’, or highly significant, heritage item in the District Plan.
It had category-one registration with Heritage New Zealand. ‘‘The District Plan requires resource consent to be obtained for any demolition, partial demolition or alterations to group-one buildings.’’
Council staff had worked with Chamberlain and his consultants to ‘‘facilitate a positive outcome’’ to keep the ‘‘very important heritage building’’, she said.
The building formed a ‘‘key part of the southwestern side of Cathedral Square’’, she said.
‘‘Advice has been provided on resource consent and building consent requirements and options for sources of grant funding from the council and other organisations.’’
Before Christmas, it was revealed Regenerate Christchurch had spent $867,713 ‘‘creating a draft concept, engaging widely, developing the design further and drafting the regeneration strategy’’ for the square.
At the time, Chamberlain, who also owns the former Warner’s Hotel site there, said he was ‘‘disappointed with progress in the Square’’.
Regenerate Christchurch had hoped to have recommendations in a draft Cathedral Square strategy to the city council and Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods before Christmas, but this was delayed.
The organisation now hoped to brief the council and Woods on ‘‘the recommendations, updated concept and all other elements of the draft strategy’’ as soon as possible this year.