Two preferred development partners have been selected to build new homes at 244 Flaxmere Ave, where the groundworks are nearly complete in readiness for building to begin early next year.

At its final full meeting for the year, Council gave approval for the negotiations to be concluded and for development agreements to be finalised with affordable home ownership partners Veros and New
Zealand Housing Foundation.

The 244 Flaxmere Ave site is one of three parcels of council-owned land in Flaxmere that is being prepared for new housing, estimated to deliver more than 150 affordable homes.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was exciting to have identified these development partners who were the strongest candidates to achieve council’s aspirations for the new, much-needed quality housing.

“These new developments are about building well-being and a great Flaxmere community. They are more than just houses, they will be safe, warm, healthy, attractive homes in communities that our people will be proud to live in.”

“It’s important all the new housing planned for Flaxmere is of good quality, designed well, stands the test of time, and is accessible to a wide range of prospective buyers through a range of home ownership
options and pathways.

“When assessing potential developers to carry out this work our teams looked at similar developments our preferred partners had completed around the country to be satisfied they can achieve these
outcomes.”

The groundworks at the 244 Flaxmere Ave site are substantially complete. Photo/Supplied.

Council is in the final stage of negotiations with the development partners who are awaiting board and governance approvals to then finalise partnership agreements to build the new homes. This is anticipated to be concluded in the early part of 2023.

The total number of new homes to be built at Flaxmere Ave will depend on the final development plans for the site, expected to be in the region of 45.

Veros managing director Morgan Jones said they were looking forward to partnering with Council in bringing quality and well-designed new homes to the Flaxmere community.

Similarly New Zealand Housing Foundation chief executive Dominic Foote was excited about the opportunity.

“We are really excited that in partnering with HDC we have the opportunity to assist whānau to own their first home. It’s an incredible opportunity for Housing Foundation to make our affordable home ownership products available in Flaxmere for first-time buyers - we value this opportunity to work with whānau.”

The homes will be accessible to first-home buyers, through a range of home ownership pathways such as shared ownership, rent-to-own, affordable rental and market sales.

All the houses will be owner/occupier for a period of no less than five years from the date of settlement and will be a mix of one, two and three-bedroom single and two-storey standalone, duplex and terraced housing.

This will result in homes suitable for all, to be close to whānau and the community they are connected with.

They will adhere to best practice urban design outcomes, embodying Te Aranga Māori design principles, and have good quality, useable, and private outdoor living spaces.

The developers for the other two sites at 72 Caernarvon Drive and 30 Swansea Rd are yet to be determined but will be announced from mid-2023 onwards.

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