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Wigram Skies
The Client
Wigram Skies is a large-scale residential subdivision (1700 lots) in Christchurch. It was developed by Ngāi Tahu Property Ltd, one of South Island’s largest developers, with whom we have a well-established and strong working relationship.
Client
Ngāi Tahu PropertyServices
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Land Surveying
- Planning
- Environmental
- Water Engineering
- Urban Design
The Challenge
The client wanted to create a high-quality community with an intimate urban village feel that would tie in with the surrounding district. It required a variation of lot sizes to mitigate edge effects to the adjoining properties and to offer more housing choices for new residents and those affected by the earthquakes. The client also wanted to create a development with a unique feel where the lots, road layout and interconnected open spaces have a distinct aesthetic.
The project had to comply with the minimum density requirement and create a highly marketable range of higher density through to larger, lower-density lots. We were also involved with the design and development of the adjoining Business Zone into a business park that was visually cohesive with the residential land uses.
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The Solution
We provided Ngāi Tahu Property with a full land development service package that enabled a seamless and high quality design outcome. Our experienced urban design and planning teams were at the forefront of early phases, informing all aspects of the design. With all our experts under one roof, daily communication was a smooth and straightforward process, saving the client time and cost.
We were involved from the initial conception of the project, which began with a plan change for the rezoning of the previous air base. Following this, we prepared land use consents for global consents, site specific consents, and several regional council consents. This stage also involved the development of the neighbouring Wigram Business Park - an industrial subdivision comprising 45 lots over a 24ha site.
The development also included the realignment and naturalisation of Paparua Stream.
Lower densities and open spaces around the edges of the development ensured any visual effects on surrounding properties were minimised. Pedestrian routes were integrated with open space and stormwater management, creating a series of multi-functional reserves well-used by the residents.
The experience gained from this unique large-scale development has allowed us to excel on similar MBIE-led projects, making us experts in delivering developments with higher than average yields.
![Wigram Skies - Modern outdoor commercial area at dusk, featuring well-lit pathways, illuminated streetlights, and storefronts with contemporary design elements. An urban development project by Eliot Sinclair](https://dxn8y2lrktwdj.cloudfront.net/Projects/Wigram-Skies_V113.jpg)
![Wigram Skies streetscape at dusk with buildings featuring large windows on the left above a SUBWAY sandwich store, light trails of passing vehicles, and a cyclist lane marked in the foreground. THE LANDING logo can be seen in the middle. This urban development project was done by Eliot Sinclair](https://dxn8y2lrktwdj.cloudfront.net/Projects/Wigram-Skies_V111.jpg)
![Aerial view of a sprawling suburban area with housing developments in Wigram, Christchurch. The view features road networks, and patches of green land and farmlands, surrounded by a cityscape in the background.](https://dxn8y2lrktwdj.cloudfront.net/Projects/Wigram-Skies_V117.jpg)
![Aerial view of a wigram skies suburban neighbourhood with numerous houses, roads, and patches of grassland, set under a partly cloudy sky in Christchurch, New Zealand. This is a photo taken by Eliot Sinclair's land surveying drone.](https://dxn8y2lrktwdj.cloudfront.net/Projects/Wigram-Skies_V110.jpg)
![Aerial view of a suburban residential area adjacent to a commercial industrial zone separated by a greenbelt with a pathway, under a partly cloudy sky at sunset. This image is taken by Eliot Sinclair's land surveying drone to illustrate the urban development project they've done.](https://dxn8y2lrktwdj.cloudfront.net/Projects/Wigram-Skies_V15.jpg)
![An aerial view of a suburban neighborhood Wigram Skies at dusk, showing numerous houses, streets, a roundabout, and distant hills under a partially cloudy sky. A massive urban development project championed by Eliot Sinclair's engineering team.](https://dxn8y2lrktwdj.cloudfront.net/Projects/Wigram-Skies_V16.jpg)