
First stage of big Halswell retirement village nears completion
Christchurch will get another retirement village when the first stage of Halswell’s $210 million Banbury Park opens in May.
The development, designed to resemble a subdivision with stand-alone houses built along streets, is going up on a 14-hectare site between Milns and Sparks roads.
It will have 191 houses, 42 apartments, a rest home with hospital and dementia care, and facilities including a pool and a restaurant. All buildings will be single or double storey.
The complex is being built by Qestral Corporation, a Christchurch company headed by Ryman Healthcare founder John Ryder, which develops upscale retirement villages.
Qestral bought the farmland for about $6.6m in 2019, most of it from Christchurch developer and investor the Carter Group, owned by Philip Carter.
Ryder said the first 12 homes finished would be followed by another 24, and completing the development would take five years.
The project has been expanded to cover an extra 2ha from when it was first announced, and construction costs have risen, Ryder said. The original budget was $160m.
The Banbury Park site is immediately south of the Meadowlands subdivision being built by Danne Mora Holdings, with 155 sections in six stages. It is just north of land owned by the Carter Group which is also earmarked for residential development.
Banbury Park’s houses will be from 116 square metres to 230sqm in size, while the apartments will be part of the main facilities building.
Banbury Park is being built in Halswell by Qestral Corporation.
As with other retirement villages, occupants will buy a right to occupy only, and will not own their homes.
Christchurch already has about 50 retirement villages, of which Burlington in Redwood and Alpine View in Marshland are both owned by Qestral.
Ryder said since establishing its first two complexes in the city, they had been made aware of demand for retirement homes in the southwestern suburbs.
“Halswell is a hugely busy area for construction and new housing – there’s been a huge amount of interest from people around the area,” he said.
The company also owns the Coastal View retirement village in Nelson and is developing others in Hamilton and Whangarei as part of a development programme costing more than $750m.
Other retirement villages planned for the Christchurch area include Ryman’s complexes in Park Tce in the central city and Main North Rd in Northwood, while fellow operator Summerset plans to build on land it has bought at South Belt in Rangiora, and Springs Rd in Prebbleton.

Poll: What should happen to the cathedral?
In August, restoration of the Christ Church Cathedral was put on hold. Church leaders have no idea when work might restart.
Last year, the Government declined to provide further funding beyond $25 million, and the church, who had raised $24m in donations and contributed $49m including insurance, said further public support will be required to find the revenue required.
What do you think the next steps should be for the cathedral?

-
14.9% Keep waiting for more funding
-
27.7% Continue build, but with compromises
-
51.1% Demolish it!
-
6.4% Other - I'll share below

Show us what you've been up to...
Brighten our day, and show us a glimpse into your world, neighbours.
We'd love to see some of the photos you've taken lately or any craft/DIY projects you're working on.
Simply add a photo below 📷🌅 🌻


Warning: These riddles might blow your mind🤯 Try them if you dare! 🚀
What rock group consists of four famous men, but none of them sing?
Do you think you know the answer? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
