New sites open for Auckland housing

  • 23/05/2016
New sites open for Auckland housing

Three new sites for 740 homes in Auckland have been opened up, but the Government says they won't be available for at least 18 months.

The areas are part of a wider programme announced at last year's Budget to free up Crown land to help boost housing supply. They involve complex negotiations with other Crown entities and the likes of Auckland Council and other landowners.

Map of Crown land opened up for Auckland housing by NewshubNZ

The biggest of the three sites is a 1.85-hectare piece of land at Manukau Station Rd on which 600 apartments are expected to be built. It's not subject to the right of first refusal or memorandum of understanding with iwi, Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith says.

The second is 0.91 hectares on Great North Rd, which 80 new homes will eventually sit on. The former New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) site is currently leased to a boarding hostel, and the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment is in discussions with the hostel for "transitional arrangements" for existing residents.

Meanwhile, a third 0.47-hectare site on the corner of New North Rd and Soljak Pl in Mt Albert will be opened up to 60 townhouse apartments. The land was part owned by NZTA and a private landowner.

Dr Smith says today's announcement was a "significant step" in the Government's programme. He estimated it would take around 18 months for the first homes to be completed, while the apartment blocks could be two years away.

Each site will have requirements for the speed of development, social housing and targeted house prices.

Newshub.