Re-emerging from the rubble: What is delaying regeneration of Christchurch CBD?

Abstract

Ten years since the February 2011 earthquakes devastated Christchurch CBD, partially demolished, derelict buildings and poorly maintained vacant sites remain in the post-earthquake landscape. While Christchurch City Council has made significant progress in recent years to reduce the level of vacant and derelict land across the city, several property owners remain reluctant to improve their buildings. This project documents the current inventory of derelict properties and investigates issues that are delaying progress on these sites (e.g. insurance disputes, supply and demand of commercial and residential space in the CBD, delays in consenting, absentee owners, lack of funds etc). Furthermore, we explore regulatory levers that can be used to influence action on these buildings/sites (e.g. provisions in the Building Act, compulsory acquisition etc). As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the earthquakes, this project offers a timely reminder of the mammoth struggles that the city has overcome evident in the numerous modern buildings, yet a few ‘battle sites’ slow the much-needed regeneration towards a resilient city centre.