Christchurch development blocks
Two of the largest “greenfield” commercial and industrial development land blocks on Christchurch’s urban fringe are on the market. The substantial sites — a 7.61ha block at 361 Russley Rd in Avonhead adjacent to the Christchurch International Airport, and an 11.97ha block at 206 Shands Rd in Hornby — are both zoned for commercial and industrialrelated property usages.
The Russley Rd one is being marketed for sale by deadline sale, with offers closing on December 7, while the Shands Rd block is being marketed by deadline sale, offers closing on December 6.
Both blocks are being marketed for sale by Greg Mann and Nick O’Styke of Bayleys Canterbury and they feature in Bayleys’ latest Total Property portfolio magazine.
The Russley Rd block is situated within the Special Purpose Airport Zone which allows for the building of car parking amenities, warehouse and distribution complexes, commercial services premises, or retail and hospitality operations. The block sits in the middle of four potential access routes — facing on to Avonhead Rd, Ron Guthrey Rd, Syd Bradley Rd and with a 400-metre-long exposure to Russley Rd.
Mann says that from this perspective, the block would sustain the construction of a warehousing, freightforwarding, or distribution hub, or business activities whose core focus is the provision of aviation-or tourism related services.
He said the Special Purpose Airport Zoning of the Russley Rd block was designed to underpin the ongoing operations and roles of nearby airport and aviation activities — by effectively linking the airport with the adjacent state highway roading network.
“Christchurch International Airport plays a significant role in supporting The 7.61 ha block at 361 Russley Rd, in Avonhead (left), is adjacent to the Christchurch International Airport. The 11.97 ha block at 206 Shands Rd, Hornby, is also zoned for commercial and industrialrelated property usages.
the economic and social development of not only the city, but also Greater Canterbury and indeed the South Island. This has been reflected in a more ‘prodevelopment’ approach to building in the precinct around the runways and terminal amenities,” Mann says.
“To remain viable and to compete successfully with other major New Zealand airports, it is important that the Christchurch airport surrounds are not unduly constrained in the way land resource is utilised.
“The council’s city plan has
evolved from a position of requiring all business activity in the zone to be related to airport operations, to a wider perspective that will assist the airport in maintaining an economically healthy operation and support flow-on effects in terms of benefits to the city and region.”
Meanwhile, the Shands Rd block is zoned “industrial general”, providing a buffer between Hornby’s industrial and residential sectors and allowing for a broad range of business operations. Sitting in the heart of the suburb’s industrial side, the rectangular site fronts on to Establishment Drive and Shands Rd.
O’Styke says the property was close to a raft of different business premises, including bed-maker Sleepyhead, and food manufacturer Heinz Watties, along with large scale distribution hubs for both giant supermarket operators Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises.
“With such a substantial amount of land, and substantial profile on two well-travelled roads, the property offers a ‘blank canvas’ development opportunity which could sustain multiple large-scale premises,” O’Styke says.
Christchurch council’s industrial general zoning for the Shands Road site allows for a broad range of building options, including warehousing and distribution, high-tech activities, service business premises, petrol stations, yard-based locations, and retail units.
“A 2015 commercial property report identified Hornby as one of the key growth suburbs in western Christchurch as a result of the earthquake rebuild and relocation activity. Given its close proximity to SH, the port of Lyttelton, and Christchurch Airport, there’s no question Hornby is widely recognised as one of the most strategically-located industrial and logistical hubs in Christchurch,” O’Styke says.