Plans have been unveiled for the largest private development in Christchurch central city.

Carter Group has released detailed plans for The Crossing, retail and office precinct with a car park.

The Crossing development will cover the hectare block between Cashel Mall, Colombo St, Lichfield St, and High St. Valued at $2140 million, it will include 14,000 sqm of retail and hospitality and 5000sqm of commercial space.

An integrated 630 car park building will be a key feature of The Crossing development given how critical car parking is to a retail precinct and to the CBD.

The Crossing will feature laneways and courtyards to link a suite of retail stores and hospitality tenants. Ballantynes department store will be linked to The Crossing with an air bridge at first floor level.

The development will harness the architectural features of the historic 1935 façade.

According to Philip Carter of Carter Group, the $140 million project will be the cornerstone of a world class retail precinct.

“It will give the central city a new heart and pump life back into the retail precinct as a whole,” Carter said.

Within the next few years, 15 000 people will be working within 300m of the retail and office precinct which includes The Crossing, says Colliers International.

“Carter Group has significant interests in the central city and the sheer scale of The Crossing development hasn’t been seen in Christchurch for many years. There are always risks with a project of this magnitude but The Crossing and the $140 million investment is Carter Group’s way of also showing leadership and confidence in the rebuild of the CBD and a way of giving back to the city,” Carter said.
It is anticipated that The Crossing will be open by October 2016.