More than 128 Christchurch buildings face demolition

BY KEITH LYNCH

Last updated 17:25 01/04/2011

 

Christchurch authorities have confirmed at least 128 buildings in the city will have to be demolished after the devastating February 22 quake.

At this afternoon's media briefing, Director of Planning and Transition for Civil Defence, Warwick Isaacs said 128 buildings would have to be brought down, 37 required partial demolition, while 12 would have to be made safe.

Isaacs revealed an additional seven ''critical buildings'' would also have to come down. These are: the Rolleston Court apartments, New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education, Community House, BDO Spicers Christchurch, the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Harcourts Grenadier, and Kenton Chambers.

Isaacs said the critical buildings were ''generally over five storeys tall'', on an important thoroughfare, and potentially posing a danger to other buildings.

Other buildings may end up joining the critical list, Isaacs said.

''It's about the risk they pose rather than the use of the building.''

Some work on the five-storey critical buildings was imminent, while further planning would be needed for the high rise buildings such as the Hotel Grand Chancellor.