Adams unveils $50 million spend on 145 social houses in Wellington

The government has revealed it will be shelling out close to $50 million for almost 150 social housing units in Wellington.

This follows its announcement earlier in the week that it will invest more than $75 million for housing in the Hutt Valley.

Social Housing Minister Amy Adams says there will be 145 one-bedroom units across five sites in Wellington.

“This is a significant building programme that will help drive a transformation of our Wellington social houses, creating modern and fit-for-purpose homes that social housing tenants will enjoy for decades to come.”

She says these homes, which are mostly for single people and couples without children, are “exactly the type of homes needed to respond to the social housing demand in the capital.”

Activity will ramp up over coming months, and the first new homes are expected to be ready by June 2018, Ms Adams says.

The new homes, which will be built the Wellington suburb of Mt Cook, will be specifically for people with disabilities.

“All the new homes will be fully insulated, energy efficient, positioned to maximise exposure to sunlight, have modern kitchens and bathrooms, and provide both private and communal spaces for tenants to enjoy,” she says.

Yesterday, the government revealed plans to build and refurbish more than 700 houses in Wellington’s Hutt Valley over the next five years.

Ms Adams says the project includes building 30 new social houses on four sites in the area at a cost of just under $10 million.

The government will also be forking out more than $65 million to refurbish 380 homes, bringing them up to the warm and dry standard, as well as commencing “master planning” for up to 300 more homes in the area.

Ms Adams says the first homes will be completed in mid-2018.

The government has previously announced its “transformative 109-house urban regeneration development programme” at Pomare, which was completed in 2016, as well as 179 homes earthquake-strengthened and modernised over the past four years.

In May, Ms Adams revealed the government’s plans to build 34,000 homes in Auckland over the next 10 years.

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