Geotechnical Investigation for Christchurch Community Housing Development
Eliot Sinclair partnered with Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (ŌCHT), the largest community affordable housing provider in the South Island, to deliver crucial geotechnical services for their Carey Street development in Somerfield, Christchurch. This transformative project converted a 1940s-era community housing site into a modern, purpose-built community designed specifically for working families with children. ŌCHT provides community housing to more than 2,700 people across Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Akaroa, operating as a values-driven, tenant-centric landlord committed to fostering sustainable tenancies and enhancing community wellbeing.
Client
Ōtautahi Community Housing TrustServices
- Geotechnical Engineering
The Challenge
The Carey Street development represented a generational transformation of community housing in the area. Our client’s vision was to completely regenerate the existing 1940s single-storey brick and weatherboard buildings into modern, warm, efficient and affordable homes. The new development would feature two-bedroom and three-bedroom townhouses built in multi-unit blocks in a family-focused subdivision strategically located near schools, childcare services, parks, and other essential services.
To proceed with this ambitious project, ŌCHT needed early certainty regarding the geotechnical conditions of the site to secure necessary funding. The presence of an open drain on the property raised potential concerns about lateral spread and earthquake performance that needed thorough investigation. As a charitable trust with complex funding routes, our client required high-confidence geotechnical assessments at the very beginning of the project timeline—much earlier than typical commercial developments might demand.
The Solution
We conducted a geotechnical site investigation to analyse ground conditions and evaluate the earthquake performance of the site. Our experienced engineers confirmed that despite the presence of a drain, there were no concerns regarding lateral spread, and the drain posed no significant problems for development. Additionally, we contributed our expertise to a flood management plan, providing consultation considered in the foundation design.
What set our approach apart was our ability to provide our client with high-confidence assessments even at the early desktop investigation stage. Our engineers leveraged their extensive experience to form strong, reliable impressions with partial information—a crucial capability when working with community and charitable organisations that need to secure funding early in the project lifecycle. This early certainty allowed our client to proceed without building costly contingencies into their budget.
We worked collaboratively with other consultants involved in the project, maintaining excellent communication and delivering high-quality technical content throughout. This collaborative approach, combined with our commitment to providing assured advice early in the process, enabled ŌCHT to confidently transform the site into a modern environment of townhouses that included thoughtfully designed shared community spaces.
The completed Carey Street development stands as a testament to successful urban renewal and community-focused housing. By delivering timely, reliable geotechnical expertise, Eliot Sinclair played a vital role in helping improve housing for communities and people in need—making a meaningful contribution to the local Christchurch community.
