82 state homes set to replace 16
Work has started on the building of 82 new state homes to replace 16 older ones in Auckland.
Housing Minister Phil Twyford admitted the project was announced and in train under the previous Government – but he was happy to tout its benefits.
The Thom Street development in New Lynn will be fully completed by mid 2020 with the first homes ready in the first half of 2019, homing 292 people.
The 11,046 square metre site currently holds eight twobedroom homes, six threebedroom homes, and two fourbedroom homes.
These will be replaced by seven two-storey standalone homes, 27 two-storey townhouses, and 48 apartments across three buildings.
‘‘This project is a great example of how Housing NZ is redeveloping its ageing stock to provide modern, warm and dry homes that fully utilise Crown land,’’ Twyford said.
‘‘In the not too distant past, it was the site of 16 state houses built in the 1940s. They no longer matched the needs of today’s Housing NZ tenants.’’
A key consideration was how close the development was to public transport infrastructure.
Twyford said once the City Rail Link was completed there would be trains to the CBD every few minutes at peak times, just ten minutes walk from the development.
‘‘These homes will be designed and built to modern standards, and include double-glazing, insulation, thermal curtains, carpet, and low-maintenance plantings.’’
The tenants of the 16 older homes had been ‘‘looked after’’ Twyford said – with some moved to other Housing NZ homes.
‘‘We’ve picked it up and we have a fantastic design here,’’ Twyford said.
‘‘Our Government has given the green light to ramp up house building.’’
Twyford said the development was ‘‘in the pipeline’’ before the Government changed, with the older houses already demolished – but he had given Housing NZ the ‘‘green light’’ to get developments like this done as fast as possible.
Labour has committed to building 1000 new state homes every year over this term.
Twyford himself has a personal goal of 2000 a year.
National has criticised that as their election policy involved 4305 new state homes over the term.