Christchurch police station for sale

Spanning 56-68 St Asaph St, the police station has three street frontages. Photo / Supplied

Christchurch's former temporary police station in St Asaph Street, built as a stop-gap until the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct was finished, is for sale.

"The large format single-level station covers more than 7000sq m and sits adjacent to the Metro Sports facility," says Hamish Doig, managing director of Colliers International in Christchurch, who, with general manager Mark Macauley, is marketing the property for sale with offers closing at 4pm on December 14, unless it sells earlier.

Spanning 56-68 St Asaph St, the freehold property is in four titles and has three street frontages on to Antigua, St Asaph and Acton Sts.

It was officially opened in 2013 as a replacement for the former city police station on Hereford St, after that station was deemed unsafe. More than 600 police staff were based at the temporary station, which included a custody block.

The 1.6ha property is owned by Calder Stewart, which recently opened the new central city EntX cinema complex. It has 122 carparks and is leased to Wilson Parking.

Calder Stewart is predominantly focused on design and build construction and development in the industrial and commercial sectors, the firm's managing director Alan Stewart says.

"The reason for selling St Asaph St is simply to repurpose capital into more typical Calder Stewart industrial and commercial projects."

The company bought the site in 2007 for future development. Following the earthquakes, NZ Police approached Calder Stewart to lease the site and subsequently engaged Arrow International to build the temporary replacement.

Doig says the buildings are constructed to Importance Level 4, which means they're more than 100 per cent of the New Building Standard.

"Its location, adjacent to both the Metro Sports facility, Christchurch Hospital and within a short walk of the city centre and Hagley Park, makes it very attractive.

"We think this property will have immense appeal for value-add buyers and people who see it as a strategic asset.

"Given the IL4 rating, it could be put to a variety of uses such as those associated with hospital functions , a post disaster facility, tertiary institutions wanting an inner city presence, high density residential or aged care."

The site's CCMU zoning allows activities including light industrial, education, health facilities, residential activity and travellers' accommodation. Under the zoning buildings can be up to 17m or about four storeys in height.