All go for Crown Land developments

It’s full steam ahead for the government’s Crown Land Housing programme in Auckland with two progress announcements from the Housing Minister.

Wednesday, October 26th 2016, 3:00PM

by Miriam Bell

The programme, which was first announced last year, aims to develop surplus Crown-owned land with private partners in order to boost the city’s housing supply.

Housing Minister Nick Smith today said the government has signed an agreement with an iwi and a construction company for an affordable 100 dwelling development on New North Road in Mt Albert.

Properties in the development, which is on a New Zealand Transport Agency site originally intended for the Waterview roading project, will have an average price of $573,000.

The Marutūāhu Rōpū iwi, which is part of the Tamaki Collective, and Ockham Residential Limited will led the project.

Smith said the site had been granted Special Housing Area (SHA) status earlier this year and this means that 100 properties can be built on the site - rather than 24 under the old planning rules.

“The key to more affordable housing close to Auckland city is greater density and smart design.”

Smith said that, to this end, Ockham has proven experience in developing innovative, high-quality and affordable housing with a focus on three and four level character apartments.

The project is also significant as the first development under the Housing Protocol between the Crown and Tāmaki Collective, he said.

“Marutūāhu Rōpū is an important partner and through the Tāmaki Collective helped achieve the successful housing development at Waimahia at Weymouth.”

Properties in the New North Road development will be constructed in stages, with construction expected to begin in July 2017.

The first properties are due to be completed by May 2018, with the balance to be completed over 2018 and 2019.

Smith also said that work has now begun on one of the Crown Land Housing programme developments announced at an earlier date.

The site of the Moire Road housing development in Massey East, which is slated for 196 properties, was blessed and the first sod turned today paving the way for earthworks to start in early November.

Fletcher Residential and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are partners in the project which will delivers a mix of detached single story dwellings, terraces and duplexes.

Thirty per cent, or 59 properties, will be made available for social housing and Community Housing Providers (CHPs)* will have the first option to purchase these properties.

Fletcher Residential is already in negotiations with three CHPs but, if CHPs do not take up the option, the properties will be made available to first home buyers.

Smith said the first Moire Road properties are set to be completed by the end of August 2017 and the whole development completed by mid-2019.

“This project will provide nearly 200 homes in a part of Auckland where housing demand is strongest.

“The government is using its ownership of the land to require a pace of construction and a mixed development with a significant portion of social housing.”

Smith’s Crown Land Housing programme announcements come hot on the heels of Finance Minister Bill English’s confirmation that Housing New Zealand is ramping up its building programme.

*It is possible for private investors to become registered CHPs if they go through the official registration process run by the Community Housing Regulatory Authority.

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