Subdivision work could soon begin

Work could begin on a 34-lot subdivision in Outram's Formby St early next year.

Christchurch man Gordon Mockford's company Two Note Ltd successfully had 7.7ha of rural land on Formby St re-zoned to residential earlier this year, after applying for the private plan change two years earlier.

The subdivision will represent a 10% increase in the number of homes in the township and was viewed by the city council committee that approved the private plan change as being socially and economically good for Outram.

Contacted recently to see where the project was at, Mr Mockford said he was in discussions with a developer about either selling the subdivision to them or entering into a joint venture for its development.

His company had taken the project through the plan change process and put together plans for the subdivision, but did not have the ability to do the physical work itself, he said.

He expected the discussions would be completed early next year. People should start seeing some activity on site after that.

The city council is still in mediation with another developer who wants to create a 24-home subdivision on former market garden land around the historic Balmoral homestead on the northern edge of Outram.

The application from Balmoral Development (Outram) Ltd and an adjoining landowner for a private plan change to rezone 6.7ha from rural to residential was rejected by the council in 2013.

The council said the development would allow the spread of residential development into rural areas at the expense of productive high-class soils, when there was no evidence of clear demand.

When contacted, Balmoral developer Cathy Ferguson, of Omarama, said there was no news to add on the situation.

If mediation fails, appeals can be heard in the Environment Court.

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