Christchurch City Council is taking steps to free up more land for residential and business development.
The council has given final approval to a plan change, to allow development on land in the Highfield and Templeton areas.
A new living zone in the east of Highfield will provide approximately 2200 houses.
The Templeton special rural zone will allow for the use of the former Templeton hospital site for a range of rural-related activities.
Regulatory and Planning Committee chair Sue Wells says the council is mindful of the housing demand in the city.
She says the next step in the process will be to publicly notify the plan and invite public submissions.
