A group overseeing the spread of new residential developments in and around Christchurch says land rezoning in the past 18 months will allow for more than 20,000 houses in coming years.
The Urban Development Strategy is a plan developed by four councils and the Transport Agency to manage urban spread for the next 40 years.
UDS chair Bill Wasley says developers are expected to release more than 6600 new sections on to the market in the next two years.
He says this would exceed demand from people with homes in the red-zone.
Mr Wasley says there is already enough greenfields land identified for development to meet demand through until 2041.