800 houses for Porirua City
Up to 800 houses are poised to be built in a major new housing development around Porirua’s old hospital.
Early consents will soon be lodged for Kenepuru Landing, a joint project between developer Carrus Corporation and local iwi Ngati Toa.
A mix of medium-density and standalone homes, the 50 hectare development will be built on land Ngati Toa received as part of a Crown Treaty settlement.
Carrus is behind another major Porirua subdivision, Aotea, which is aimed at the more expensive end of the market.
Kenepuru Landing would be more affordable, the general manager of Carrus’ property division, Scott Adams said.
The first stage is expected to contain about 150 dwellings, the majority of which would be priced in the mid-$500,000 range.
Adams said pricing had been done with Kiwisaver Homestart grants in mind.
‘‘One of the requirements is that the house has to be $550,000 or less, and there’s nowhere really in the Wellington region that you can really find that sort of price now’’.
The project was also hoping to attract empty nesters wanting to live close to public transport.
Earthworks are set to begin in March and civil works in the second half of the year, while resource consent is sought for the designs.
Construction is expected to begin next February.
Adams declined to put a figure on how much the project would cost as the costs were often changing.
Another potential housing development on Plimmerton Farm north of Porirua has been under negotiation for some years.
The future ownership structure of North City is also in flux, which might ultimately refresh the slightly dated mall.
Ngati Toa’s executive director Matiu Rei said several old Porirua hospital buildings would be demolished to make way for the development. The current Kenepuru Hospital was outside it.
He said the iwi was pleased to be involved.
‘‘Affordable housing is an issue ... and we’re very pleased to be part of a venture which hopefully will be of great assistance to younger families to get into their own property.’’
Some of the land was zoned industrial and would be set aside for limited light commercial use, largely along Kenepuru Drive.