Improved public transport and higher density housing are hoped to support the Greater Christchurch area as the population grows.
Environment Canterbury adopted the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan and the Greater Christchurch Partnership Housing Action Plan at a council meeting yesterday.
The spatial plan calls for greater investment in public transport, including mass rapid transport to provide connections in Christchurch.
Chairperson Peter Scott said the spatial plan "is something Greater Christchurch deserves" and he pledged to keep lobbying central government.
Councillor Grant Edge said the previous government had given its backing to mass rapid transport, "and now we are waiting on the new government".
Senior strategy manager Jesse Burgess said the spatial plan provided a blueprint for the next 30 years.
The population across the Christchurch city, and Waimakariri and Selwyn districts is expected to grow from 540,000 to more than 700,000 by 2051.
"This spatial plan was developed with considerable public input," Burgess said.
More than 7000 people responded to an online survey last year "including a large number of young people", while 358 submissions were received on the draft spatial plan, he said.
The spatial plan proposes a shift from greenfield developments to higher density housing.
The growing population is expected to be more ethnically diverse, with people identifying as Māori, Pasifika and Asian forming a greater share of young people and the working-age population by 2051.
An ageing and more diverse population will require a range of housing types and models of community living, the plan says.
It also also seeks to unlock investment opportunities in the Rangiora and Rolleston town centres, the Christchurch city centre and suburbs of Papanui, Riccarton and Hornby.
The spatial plan will provide guidance to District Plans and to Environment Canterbury's Regional Policy Statement, which is expected to be consulted on later this year.
Burgess said the housing plan was a response to the growing housing crisis, with rents in the Greater Christchurch area rising faster than "anywhere else in the country" over the last 12 months.
It identifies eight actions councils can do immediately, including looking at opening up Crown and council owned land for housing.
Other options include investigating the creation of "inclusionary zoning" to increase the supply of social and affordable rental housing, what kind of incentives can be offered, and advocating with banks.
Options like the Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust model can also be considered.
The Canterbury Mayoral Forum is also looking into housing affordability across the wider Canterbury region, Burgess said.
The Christchurch and Waimakariri councils have already adopted both plans, while the Selwyn District Council was due to meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
The Greater Christchurch Partnership is a collaboration between the four councils, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and government agencies.
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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