FAQs: Wigram Community & Property Sales

How long will Wigram Skies take and how many people will live there?

Once complete, Wigram Skies will be home to 4,000 people spread over approximately 1,600 residential sections. The length of the project will be determined by a number of factors, but you can get an idea of the scale of the project and timeframes by viewing our the Wigram Development diagram.

Will there be a choice of section sizes?

Yes. Wigram Skies will be made up of three different residential densities, which means there will be a section size to suit all needs. View the Masterplan to see the proposed land uses and how the residential densities will be distributed.

Will there be vital community elements such as parks, bus routes and cycles networks?

Yes. These are key considerations in the plan developed by our urban designers. You can see what they’ve come up with by viewing the following document:

•  Urban Design Report[PDF 6.2MB] which is comprised, in part, of the following development strategies:
  •  Movement Strategy [PDF 234KB]
  •  Open Space Strategy [PDF 278KB]
  •  Pedestrian Cycle Network [PDF 165KB]
  •  Public Transport Network [PDF 244KB]
  •  Water Movement Strategy [PDF 269KB]

Conditions: The application is a privately initiated Plan Change request made in accordance with Clause 21 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991. Any information provided herein by the developer is subject to finalisation through the Plan Change process. This material is for guidance only and does not constitute an offer or contract.

What is a Plan Change?

This is a process we go through to bring about a change in the City Plan Zoning for a particular piece of land. You can get further information on the Plan Change process, and how to make a submission, by contacting Scott Blair at the Christchurch City Council District Planning Team – Strategic Support Unit: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Why is this land at Wigram being developed?

The South West Area Plan (SWAP), the Urban Development Strategy (UDS) and the Regional Policy Statement (RPS) produced by the City and Regional Councils have identified this part of Christchurch as a key area for urban growth. You can find out more about these documents by visiting www.ccc.govt.nz and searching the section on Area Plans. The closure of the aerodrome, together with Ngai Tahu’s vision for the site and the progression of the documents mentioned above, means that the current Special Purpose Zoning is no longer appropriate for the land.

Why couldn’t the Wigram Aerodrome be maintained?

Ngāi Tahu Property purchased Wigram in 1996 after the RNZAF ceased operations and the Government closed the Airbase. While CCC was initially interested in leasing the airfield so aviation related activities could continue, it soon became clear that this was uneconomic. Ngāi Tahu continued to operate the airfield however until February 2009.

What happens first?

In order to continue developing the Wigram site, a change to the City Plan Zoning is required for mixed-use development. The plan change application will be lodged in the third quarter, 2009. To help get the development underway and to address existing storm water issues in the area, a large storm water basin will be constructed on the Awatea Road side of the Wigram development. This is a Christchurch City Council project with assistance from Ngāi Tahu Property. Construction of the basin is programmed to start in late 2009. Consent has already been granted for Stage 1 of the Wigram development, with construction planned to start in late 2009 / early 2010.