Blake Street Car Park and Laneway Upgrade - Rangiora

Tucked just off the bustle of High Street in Rangiora, a once-unassuming corner of the town has undergone a quiet but powerful transformation. The Blake Street Car Park and Laneway Upgrade, commissioned by Waimakariri District Council and delivered by Stewart Civil Ltd, has turned a functional back-of-house space into a vibrant, welcoming link between people and place.

The project brought together the practical needs of a growing town with the aesthetic goals of modern urban design. What was once a dimly lit passage and underused car park has been reimagined into an attractive pedestrian-friendly area, designed to be safer, greener, and more inviting.

The upgrade began below the surface, with new stormwater infrastructure installed to ensure the area could handle heavy rainfall without issue. A 300mm stormwater pipe and multiple sumps now quietly carry water away, protecting the new surface above. But it’s what meets the eye that’s most striking.

Gone are the old dividing walls, replaced with open space and visual flow. The laneway has been laid with high-quality pavers, adding a tactile, human-scale element underfoot. Bespoke lighting now gently illuminates the pathway, encouraging evening foot traffic and creating a sense of safety after dark.

The car park, too, received a complete overhaul — not only resurfaced and relined, but reframed as a natural extension of the town centre, offering both convenience and a refreshed look. The addition of handcrafted concrete planters and custom plant structures brings greenery into the heart of the site, providing texture and softening the urban landscape. These one-of-a-kind features speak to a growing trend in civic design: functional infrastructure that doesn’t sacrifice beauty.

More than just a construction job, the Blake Street upgrade is a reflection of Rangiora’s ongoing evolution — a small but meaningful investment in the town’s walkability, identity, and connection to its community.