The Christchurch City Council is considering approval for the demolition of five buildings, including three historic properties and two community facilities, as part of a broader plan to address safety, maintenance costs, and community needs.
At a council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, members will review recommendations to remove the former Woodham Park Caretaker’s House, the Barbadoes Street Cemetery Sexton’s House, and the Halswell Quarry Engineer’s House. All three structures are vacant, in poor condition, and have experienced issues such as unauthorized access, vandalism, and graffiti.
The Woodham Park Caretaker’s House, located at 157 Woodham Road, dates back to the early 1940s and represents the last remaining residential building linked to a Christchurch park. While it is recorded as a significant heritage item in the District Plan, the house has been empty since 2009. Restoration efforts were estimated by the council in May to cost up to NZ$1.1 million, funds which are not currently allocated. In contrast, demolition expenses are estimated at approximately NZ$45,000. Officials noted that removing the building would enable enhanced access to the park and facilitate landscaping and interpretive development.
Similarly, the Barbadoes Street Cemetery Sexton’s House at 357 Cambridge Terrace, constructed in the 1920s, is recognized as the last structure of historic importance within the cemetery precinct. The building has suffered deterioration from unauthorized entries and vandalism, with the council receiving 17 complaints since 2019 related to rubbish accumulation, property damage, squatting, and graffiti.
The Halswell Quarry Engineer’s House, at 185 Kennedys Bush Road, built in the 1940s for quarry management, has remained vacant since 2017. Public responses to demolition proposals for each heritage building were limited, with fewer than 40 submissions per property. Most respondents favored demolition due to the high cost of repairs, while opposition centered on concerns about losing heritage assets and the risk of allowing buildings to degrade before removal.
Additional community buildings under consideration for demolition include the Okains Bay Community Hall on Banks Peninsula and the Community Link building in Hei Hei. The Okains Bay hall, in operation since 1886, was closed in April 2025 following a soffit collapse that rendered the structure unsafe. A 2020 study concluded the facility was no longer fit for purpose and that repairs, estimated at NZ$825,000, were not financially feasible. Demolition is projected to cost just under NZ$100,000 plus GST. Public responses included 24 submissions, with the majority supporting demolition, though some expressed concerns regarding the absence of a confirmed plan for replacement facilities.
The Banks Peninsula Community Board has endorsed demolition, but the final decision rests with the full city council. Council staff noted that approving demolition would not finalize future planning for community services at Okains Bay.
In Hei Hei, the council is considering demolishing the existing Community Link building at 8 Wycloa Avenue and replacing it with a new 100-square-meter community facility funded through already approved Long-Term Plan resources. Hornby Menzshed Incorporated is proposed as the tenant for the new building. The Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board has supported the lease, contingent on council approval of demolition and reconstruction plans.