The Palms - Retail Mall Expansion for AMP Capital

ViaStrada recently obtained non-notified land use consent approval for its client AMP Capital Palms Pty Ltd for an expansion to The Palms Shopping Centre in north-east Christchurch.

The Palms is located 4 km from the city's CBD and currently consists of approximately 110 retail tenancies, including the first Reading Cinemas multiplex in Christchurch.

The resource consent proposal sought to build on the successful expansion of the mall in 2003 with a further 32% increase proposed for the shopping centre. The redevelopment will provide for additional retail floor space, enhanced pedestrian connections and mall thoroughfares, and additional on-site car parking. The existing entry plaza of the mall (which was subject to an NZILA Silver award for landscape design in 2004) will be redeveloped to provide opportunities for an enhanced entertainment precinct and gateway to the centre.

ViaStrada's planners, traffic planners and environmental health experts were involved from the project inception through to consent approval, assisting with: site layout and design; risk identification and mitigation; consultation with the Council's Urban Design Panel; technical assessments (AEE and environmental health assessment); and Council liaison.

Jeremy Phillips, a ViaStrada director and planner, lead the large consultant team responsible for delivering the resource consent application, working closely with team members, Council officers and the client to navigate the resource consent process and achieve a non-notified decision in a timely manner.

Image courtesy of Woodhams Meikle Zhan Architects