Christchurch City Council has approved making free night time parking on Hagley Avenue near Christchurch Hospital permanent.

The request for more parking was put forward by Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and Harewood councillor Aaron Keown, who had pushed for the return of on street parking on the Hagley Park side of Hospital Corner.

Council first approved a six month trial in December 2024, allowing parking overnight on the north side of Hagley Avenue between 7.30pm and 7.30am.

The trial began in March last year and created space for about 18 vehicles to park near the hospital.

Monitoring during the trial found demand for the parks increased over time, particularly after awareness grew and after the opening of the Parakiore Metro Sports Facility in December.

Council staff said parked vehicles, including those that overstayed, were not found to have a significant impact on traffic flow, including during the busy morning peak period.

More than 50 people made submissions on the trial during public consultation earlier this year, with 55 percent supporting the clearway arrangement.

Many submitters said the parking was useful for hospital staff and visitors and provided safer parking close to the hospital.

Council staff recommended the arrangement be made permanent, saying the clearway was operating as intended and provided additional parking without requiring major infrastructure changes.

The decision means night time parking will continue on the Hagley Avenue section permanently, while the clearway remains in place during daytime hours to maintain traffic flow.