Three Lanes Lyttelton Street an awards finalist

Three Lanes Lyttelton Street is a finalist in the 2026 Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards.

It is one of two Christchurch developments among 15 finalists in the Kāinga Ora Community and Affordable Housing Property Award category.

The category recognises excellence in multi-unit residential developments and public or social housing developments. 

Three Lanes is the fifth ŌCHT development nominated for a build or design award since 2021.

ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney says the recognition “reflects the standard we’re aiming for at ŌCHT – not just more homes, but better homes, and clearer pathways for people as housing needs change”.

“Three Lanes shows what that looks like in practice. We’ve replaced older stock with a development that more than doubles capacity, but just as importantly, broadens who we can house, and provides a pathway to home ownership.”

The judges will soon visit a development that shows what moving through the housing continuum can look like. 

Three Lanes replaces an older 32-unit pensioner complex with 65 mixed-tenure homes, increasing capacity to 123 bedrooms and making space for a wider mix of households, including families.

Community rental, affordable rental and Progressive Home Ownership homes are built across a connected, lane-style layout. Shared spaces and thoughtful design support everyday interaction, safety and a sense of belonging.

The site itself was challenging, built on a former landfill, with ground improvements completed to ensure long-term structural safety. 

The homes are designed to be warm, dry and energy-efficient, using high-performance construction, good insulation and ventilation systems to help reduce running costs. Solar panels will help ŌCHT see how alternative energy may figure in future projects.

“What’s most encouraging is the early response from residents. Warmth, comfort and pride in where they live, that’s the outcome we’re after,” Ms Kearney says.

“Being named a finalist is a positive signal, but the real measure is how these homes perform over time for the people who live in them.”

A recent report found the units generally outperform New Zealand Building Code minimums due to their structural insulation panel construction, construction, slab insulation, and orientation.

Water use is low and electricity demand is minimized through high-efficiency heat pumps. Operational carbon - a measure of the homes’ carbon impact - is also very low.

Three Lanes Lyttelton Street was designed by PXA Architects and built by Consortium Construction.

The award winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in May.