$48m boost to social housing
The Government will announce today that it will build 145 new one-bedroom social housing units across Wellington.
The announcement, by Social Housing Minister Amy Adams, will see a $48.5 million investment in a ‘‘significant building programme [to] help drive a transformation of Wellington social housing’’.
‘‘These are the exactly the kind of homes needed in Wellington to respond to social housing demand, which is mostly from single people and couples without children,’’ Adams said.
However, some Wellington civic leaders are calling it a ‘‘cynical political move’’, after a failure by Housing New Zealand to build on vacant sites for years.
Building is set to begin this year at five sites in the suburbs of Mt Cook, Berhampore, Johnsonville, Newtown, and Wellington Central.
Work has already started at 28 Hanson St, Mt Cook, where 20 onebedroom units are being built across a multi-storey building with two wings.
Acting Wellington Mayor Paul Eagle, the city’s housing portfolio leader, said it was ‘‘good to finally see progress’’.
‘‘Some of those sites have been sitting vacant for some time,’’ he said. ‘‘It replaces the existing stock we lost, but we still need much more.’’
Over the next 10-20 years it was predicted Wellington would need an additional 4000 homes, he said.
Labour’s Grant Robertson, the MP for Wellington Central, said: ‘‘The Gordon Wilson housing complex on The Terrace was sold to Victoria University in 2012, and they said way back then the site would be redeveloped into new flats.
‘‘There seems to be a pattern emerging here announcing this so close to an election.’’
On Tuesday, the Government announced 330 new social, affordable and market homes would be built in the Lower Hutt suburbs of Naenae, Taita, and Waterloo, at a cost of about $9.5m. Labour’s Hutt South candidate, Ginny Andersen, said that response didn’t seem genuine after five years of campaigns and protests about vacant HNZ land in the Hutt Valley failed to receive a response.
Adams said the new homes in Hanson St were designed specifically for people with disabilities. ‘‘Hanson St is an ideal location for these homes, because it’s close to the hospital, social service agencies, shops and bus routes.’’
In June 2018, the first set of new homes to be completed will be at 135 Britomart St, in Berhampore, where 34 one-bedroom units are being built across three buildings.
‘‘The complex focuses around a shared communal space, while maintaining privacy for tenants and neighbours,’’ Adams said.
‘‘The apartments have also been designed to maximise exposure to the sun, and each has its own outdoor area.
‘‘All the new homes will be fully insulated, energy efficient ... have modern kitchens and bathrooms, and provide both private and communal spaces for tenants to enjoy.’’