Major affordable housing project in the pipeline for Arrowtown

Last Thursday the Queenstown Lakes District Council approved a 3.6ha site on Jopp Street to be assigned to the Trust to build 65 homes for a mixed tenure development.

The land has been earmarked for housing since 2003, when the local community identified the site as being favourable for residential development.

The Trust proposes to build 65 homes, comprising five one-bedroom units, 20 two-bedroom homes, 36 three-bedroom homes and four four-bedroom homes.

A mixed tenure development model is envisaged with the homes being allocated to the Trust’s various programmes, including its new assisted-ownership model Secure Home, affordable rentals, rent-to-buy and senior housing.

Trust chair Andrew Blair says the Trust appreciates the support of the Council to enable this major milestone: “We see this as a transfer from the balance sheet of one community-owned organisation to another. By facilitiating this project, both Council and the Trust can continue to strive towards our aligned goal of assisting 1000 households into affordable homes by 2028.”

The transfer is subject to sign-off from Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta due to its current status as endowment land, as well as the Trust confirming its final masterplan to Council. The latter will be established once Geotech and soil contaimination investigations are complete.

The Trust anticipates civil works will commence later this year, with building construction to start in 12-15 months.