Affordable housing milestone for Wānaka households
Fifty-eight Wānaka households will benefit from the district’s largest community housing contribution from a property developer, over the next 18 months.
The Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) has received title for its first 18 permanently affordable housing sections at the Longview development at Lake Hāwea.
A total of 58 sections have been gifted to the Trust by Longview developer Lane Hocking, representing a contribution of 12.5% of total sections and developed land in the 464-section subdivision.
It’s the largest contribution percentage from a single development in the Queenstown Lakes District since the inclusionary housing requirement was introduced by Queenstown Lakes District Council almost 20 years ago.
The value received from these contributions (land or cash) is invested into QLCHT’s award-winning Secure Home scheme, or one of its affordable rental programmes. The properties form a housing stock which is held for the Queenstown Lakes District community in perpetuity.
“Another aspect of this what makes this contribution significant is that Lane front-loaded his requirements to the Trust – meaning that twice the number of sections have been released up front in Stage 1, enabling us to move quickly with the building process,” QLCHT executive officer Julie Scott says.
“We’ll receive the sections as soon as title is released, allowing us to build affordable housing faster for local households on our waiting list. It’s a really great example of a collaboration between a private developer, the council and QLCHT and is ultimately a fantastic outcome for the community.”
Hocking says: “Gifting the sections to the Housing Trust was one of the quid pro quos of getting the Longview development across the line in 2017 and I’m very proud that we’ve been able to do this. It means we’re able to help QLCHT get locals into housing that will remain permanently affordable, being held in community ownership.”
Longview, accessed off Cemetery Road, is a low-density residential subdivision comprising 464 sections between 300-600sq m in size. It will also include a playground, café and connect to many of the established walking and cycle trails nearby. Some 310 sections have been sold so far.
QLCHT will build a mix of one- to four-bedroom homes, catering to senior residents, singles and families on low- to mid-incomes. The 58 households will be a mix of Secure Home and the Trust’s three rental programmes. Construction of community housing is expected to start this month.
