Pegasus Town, located 25 km north of Christchurch, stands as one of New Zealand’s most ambitious master planned communities. 

Our role

Envisioned to accommodate up to 6,000 residents, Pegasus Town encompasses residential neighborhoods, a town centre, recreational facilities, and extensive natural landscapes.​ Since 2009, Mark Cochran, Woods' Christchurch Director, has served as the Project Manager for Pegasus Town. In this role, he has coordinated engineering and surveying works, prepared contract documentation, and overseen contract implementation. Woods' responsibilities have included:​

• Engineering design and surveying services

• Compliance documentation preparation

• Contract documentation development

• Contract implementation oversight​

• CBRE Commercial Real Estate Services

• Waimakariri District Council

Collaborating closely with developers, local authorities, and the community, Woods has ensured the seamless integration of various project components.

Key challenges

The development of Pegasus Town required extensive consultation among developers, local authorities, and end-users to align the project's vision with community needs and regulatory requirements. Transforming a site that was once considered for landfill into a thriving town demanded innovative planning and design solutions. Key challenges included:​

• Coordinating among multiple stakeholders to achieve a cohesive development plan

• Ensuring environmental sustainability, particularly concerning the creation of a 14-hectare feature lake and the preservation of 100 hectares of natural wetlands

• Implementing infrastructure resilient to natural events, such as the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, which the town withstood due to significant soil compaction efforts

Outcome

This is one of the most comprehensive residential development projects Woods has been involved in. To date Pegasus Town features:​

• Around 2,100 house sites and a retirement village

• A 9-hectare town centre with retail and commercial spaces

• Community facilities, including a library, schools, and a community centre

• A 14-hectare feature lake connected to extensive waterways, wetlands, and conservation areas

• Parks, sports facilities, an equestrian centre, and an 18-hole championship golf course with 100 fairway house sites

The town's design emphasises walkability, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, making it a model for sustainable urban development in New Zealand.

Collaborators

• A nod to our partners on this project:

• Boffa Miskell (master planning, ecological, landscape)

• Beca (infrastructure) 

• Mason & Wales (architectural services)

• Mitchell Partnerships (planning)

• Retail Consulting Group (town centre / retail advisors)

• Traffic Design Group (transport planning) 

• Anderson Lloyd (RMA legal advisors) 

• Rawlinson’s (cost consultants)