New futures beckon for Christchurch households in need
Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (ŌCHT) is opening 65 new homes at a time when Christchurch families need more affordable, multi-bedroom housing.
The community will be officially opened on Wednesday, October 15, and is ŌCHT’s 16th purpose-built development, offering a mix of community housing, affordable rentals and progressive home ownership for families, couples and individuals.
ŌCHT Chief Executive Cate Kearney says the homes have been designed to foster both comfort and connection for whānau.
“These homes give families stability, a sense of belonging and a place to grow,” Ms Kearney says.
A community for every stage of life
This development brings together three types of housing:
Community housing: Warm, secure homes for those on the Public Housing Register.
Affordable rentals: Capped at 79% of market rent to help working whānau settle and save.
Secure Home – Progressive Home Ownership: Leasehold homes where families pay down their own mortgage, taking a real step towards ownership. Two-bedroom homes are priced at $385,000 compared to a median market price of over $750,000 in Somerfield.
Nearly half of the homes have two or more bedrooms, meeting the city’s growing need for family-sized housing. This mix ensures the community supports whānau at different stages of their housing journey, from renting into ownership.
Homes designed for families and community
The one- to four-bedroom homes are built using durable, low-maintenance materials to be warm, dry and easy to care for. North-facing design maximises natural light, while innovative construction techniques ensure the homes are energy-efficient.
In a first for ŌCHT, the homes at Three Lanes Lyttelton Street are equipped with solar panels. The Trust plans to use the insights gained from this pilot to help reduce energy costs and enhance sustainability across its wider housing portfolio.
Landscaped grounds include shared areas for children to play safely and spaces where neighbours can meet, while the community is close to schools, shops, public transport and the Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre.
Thoughtfully designed spaces that bring the community together.
Honouring local heritage
Three Lanes Lyttelton Street celebrates the area’s natural and cultural history with te reo Māori lane names:
Te Uru Kahikatea Lane — symbolising a grove of Kahikatea trees and community support.
Te Koroī Lane — the fruit of the Kahikatea, representing growth and renewal.
Te Māpara Lane — the heartwood of the Kahikatea, representing strong roots and connection.
A place where whānau thrive
A mother from a previous Secure Home community described how home ownership transformed life for her family. Her children are happier, more relaxed, and now play safely with neighbours in shared spaces — the kind of positive change Three Lanes aims to bring.
ŌCHT Chief Executive Cate Kearney says: “Three Lanes is a microcosm of our city — mixed, family-focused and community-oriented. By providing housing across the continuum, from rentals to ownership, we give families stability and the chance to build a future.”
Open-plan living designed for modern lifestyles.
Building a lasting community
The site has provided social housing for over 60 years. Demolition began in 2022, and Christchurch-based PXA Architects and Consortium Construction worked with ŌCHT to deliver modern, efficient homes.
Support from the Government, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Affordable Housing Fund, Progressive Home Ownership Fund, Christchurch City Council and the Community Housing Funding Agency enabled ŌCHT to deliver these homes sustainably and efficiently.
The new community will be officially opened on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
