Housing boost from land not needed for motorway
Surplus land from Christchurch’s Southern Motorway extension is to be developed for housing, LIZ MCDONALDreports.
Abusy Christchurch land developer has brought its focus back to Christchurch by buying another five parcels of land to create 180 sections. The land, about 20 hectares, sits on either side of the newlyextended Christchurch Southern Motorway.
Development company Gillman Wheelans is buying the land from a previous owner, who bought it back from Transport New Zealand after they were left over from the motorway project.
Formerly used for small farms, the land has been rezoned for housing. It is between Halswell and Wigram and backs on to the company’s Broken Run and Kirkwood subdivisions in Wigram, as well as the giant Aidanfield subdivision in Halswell built on land owned by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
Gillman Wheelans director Hamish Wheelans says the land purchase is expected to be com- pleted in the new year, with sections due to go on the market soon after ‘‘once we get through consent’’. Construction will start at about the same time, and sections would have titles and be ready for buyers by late 2014.
The land’s zoning means the sections in the development can be bigger, and the smaller sites required in some subdivisions will be absent.
Wheelans says there is no sign of demand for sections in and around Christchurch waning.
Many buyers are prepared to buy a little further out to find bigger sections with room for young families, he says.
The new sections ranging in size from 450sq m to 950sq m. He says it is too early to know what prices will be.
‘‘We’re working on layouts at the moment, and think the development will really meet demand for new housing in this area.’’
The company is building two subdivisions in Selwyn district – Preston Downs in West Melton and Levi Park in Rolleston.
As well as Kirkwood and Broken Run, their previous Christchurch subdivisions include Delamain in Hornby, Quarry View near Kennedy’s Bush, and Milns Court in Halswell.
Other subdivisions with sections in the south-west of Christchurch are Wigram Skies, Platinum Grove, Whitaker Estates, and the Cooperative Sections project all in Wigram, and Halswell on the Park, Knights Stream Park and Longhurst in Halswell.