Central City Transformation Plan FAQs

What is the CCTP?

The CCTP is a framework that aims to stimulate and coordinate the thinking and discussion around the design and development of the central city and the areas that border it. It includes a range of initiatives and projects designed to achieve the community’s aspirations for the area.

As the starting point, the CCTP takes our collective vision of a rejuvenated central city with Hutt River/Te Awa Kairangi at its centre, and examines central Lower Hutt’s development history and the limitations and opportunities that need to be considered to achieve this vision.

RiverLink’s flood protection, transport and promenade projects are central to the future development of the central city, so the CCTP is closely aligned with RiverLink.

What area does the CCTP cover?

The core area the CCTP looks at is the central commercial area comprising around 56 hectares, as defined by the Hutt City Council District Plan. This includes the Civic Precinct and Riddiford Gardens.

As the central city influences, and is influenced by, its neighbouring suburbs, the CCTP also examines these areas as well, particularly the residential communities to the north, east and south, and across the river at Melling and Alicetown.

Why have a plan like the CCTP?

For three decades, Lower Hutt residents have told Council, through a series of public engagements, that a key community aspiration is to rejuvenate the central city with the river as the focal point.

In response, Council prepared a series of planning frameworks and vision documents in order to achieve these objectives – the last being Making Places in 2009.

The CCTP updates Making Places and provides, for the first time, the comprehensive and detailed framework to achieve the community’s aspirations for the central city.
The CCTP provides a long-term investment story for infrastructure and private investment in central Lower Hutt.

It’s a complicated document – why should I care?

The CCTP is a large and complex document. The rejuvenation of the central city is a large, complex and long-term project.

For residents interested in the future of the central city and wanting to take part in consultations on how it might develop or those with specific interests like active transport or recreation, the CCTP is a very useful resource.

If you own a business in the central city or are considering setting up a business or investing in property or development, the CCTP can provide a guide on how the central city could work in the coming decades, and provide an idea of what the environment and opportunities might be.

What time period does the CCTP cover?

The CCTP is a 20 to 40 year plan. RiverLink will be completed within the next 20 years and the CCTP will be an important resource during its various design stages.
The public space projects in the central city, such as redeveloping the laneway system, and establishing new laneways, covered in the CCTP, will start within the next two years.

Complex projects, considered in the CCTP, like increasing the network of east-west streets to link up with the river, as well as establishing good quality apartments and other housing, will take time.

As conditions and circumstances change, Council will likely review the CCTP within the next 10 years.

What is being done now with the CCTP?

The CCTP is being used as a resource for district planning and for the design development side of RiverLink’s resource consenting phase, which starts mid-2019.

How can I get involved?

There will be a number of public engagements over the coming years related to the design and development of the city centre. This year, community engagement will be done as part of the design development of the RiverLink project.

For Lower Hutt residents or groups with an interest in the central city’s development, the CCTP offers inspiration and guidance for putting forward their ideas and thoughts during consultations and public discussion, over the coming years.