Priority Development Areas (PDAs) are a mechanism or tool for coordinated and aligned action across multiple agencies to accelerate development in selected areas.

Priority Development Areas (PDAs) are a key component of the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan (GCSP) and will be a key tool to progressing shared partner objectives through the Joint Work Programme. Now the GCSP has been adopted, our focus can shift as a partnership towards implementation of PDAs.

What are Priority Development Areas?

Priority Development Areas are a key tool of the Urban Growth Agenda framework and are areas that the Partnership wishes to focus coordinated effort on.

Priority Development Areas:

  • Provide a mechanism for coordinated, aligned and focused action across multiple agencies
  • Prioritise and unlock investment 
  • Drive collective accountability

The Priority Development Areas have been identified through technical evaluation and include areas that offer significant opportunities for change in Greater Christchurch. This includes accelerated urban development at the right scale, and exemplar projects that encourage behaviour change or which can be a catalyst for private investment.

Priority Development Areas provide the opportunity to accelerate development in locations that will support the desired pattern of growth.

Priority Areas arising from Te Tiriti Partnership

The Priority Areas for Greater Christchurch include areas arising from Te Tiriti Partnership.

This recognises that supporting the prosperous development of kāinga nohoanga on Māori Reserves and within urban areas is a priority to be progressed on the basis of Te Tiriti o Waitangi relationships, and as part of partners giving effect to mana whenua’s priorities and expectations. Mana whenua have provided clear expectations for kāinga nohoanga within the original extents of Māori Reserves and within the urban areas of Greater Christchurch. Further work is required in partnership with mana whenua to identify how this priority can be advanced. The advice received to date is that:

  • Development of Māori Land for housing, employment and community facilities is to be determined by mana whenua, and enabled and supported by investments in infrastructure by partners in agreement with mana whenua
  • The Kāinga Nohoanga Strategy will provide the guidance for implementation of kāinga nohoanga on Māori Land
  • Development of housing, employment and community facilities through kāinga nohoanga within urban areas is also a priority for mana whenua
  • The Kāinga Nohoanga Strategy will provide direction to partners on how to support and enable kāinga nohoanga within urban areas.

The benefit of including kāinga nohoanga on Māori Reserves and within urban areas alongside other Priority Areas for Greater Christchurch is that they will be recognised as a joint Crown, local government and mana whenua Priority Area within the context of the Urban Growth Partnership framework.

Priority Regeneration Area

Eastern Christchurch has been identified as a Priority Regeneration Area. This is to recognise the need for a partnership approach to:

  • maximise opportunities for regeneration of housing and business areas in appropriate
    locations;
  • improve accessibility to this area, including its significant recreational assets; and
  • support this area to adapt to the impacts of climate change and to strengthen resilience.

The table below shows the priority areas identified for Greater Christchurch.

The Map below indicates the locations of the Priority Areas across Greater Christchurch