A Christchurch developer has received approval from the council to transform vacant land in the city centre into a dedicated campervan park.

The site, located at 241 and 243 Gloucester Street, will cater to tourists travelling around New Zealand in self-contained recreational vehicles.

The property spans a 1969 m², near-flat site within the Residential Guest Accommodation (RGA) zone in the Christchurch District Plan, and will offer 25 parking bays, each with a minimum width of 5 metres.

In her application to the council, Liz Harris said the campervan park would address a gap in central city accommodation options.

“At the moment, there are no such facilities in the Central City,” she said.

“With our city’s rebuild and fantastic attractions, including museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas, the Botanical Gardens, and numerous retail and entertainment venues, it is a great opportunity to create a convenient stopover location for travelling tourists, encouraging them to stay in Christchurch instead of bypassing the city.”

Harris said the central location would enable visitors to explore Christchurch on foot or via public transport, reducing vehicle use and emissions during their stay.

The site is surrounded by a mix of residential and commercial environments, with residential areas to the north, east, and south, and commercial buildings to the west. It is close to Latimer Square, a school, and a motel complex, and is within walking distance of the Christchurch Mixed Use Arena.

Council stipulations require that visitors to the site may not stay for more than 28 nights per year, whether consecutive or spread out, to ensure compliance with zoning regulations. Additionally, no activities other than visitor accommodation are permitted on the site.

The council defined “visitor accommodation” as land or buildings used for accommodating guests who pay a tariff.

It does not permit residential activities, custodial or supervised living, emergency housing, or social housing on the property.