28 March 2014

Council to build new social housing units

Christchurch City Council will proceed to tender on the design and build of an estimated 16 new social housing units in Mairehau and Waltham.

The new one- and two-bedroom units, which are scheduled for completion mid-2015, will be built on land located at two existing Council City Housing complexes — 407 Innes Road and 59 Osborne Street.

The project is part of a greater strategy by the Council to replace its severely earthquake-damaged and red-zoned social housing.

Housing Committee Chair Glenn Livingstone says getting closed units open again for the community is a priority.

“The focus is on repairing closed units and returning the Council’s social housing to pre-earthquake levels as soon as practicable.

“The new developments at Innes Road and Osborne Street will allow the Council to make better use of the existing sites, while offsetting some of its 113 social housing units red-zoned since the earthquakes.

“Rebuilding units also provides an opportunity to make them safer, healthier and more energy-efficient for tenants,” he says.

To make way for the proposed eight new one-bedroom units at Innes Road, the Council will demolish a vacant residential house, which is currently adjacent to the Innes Courts housing complex.

Similarly, the Council will demolish four severely earthquake-damaged units on the Osborne Street site, to allow for the proposed build of four one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units.

The new units will be classified as “A Grade” housing and have a 90-year lifespan. They will also meet design, innovation, accessibility and sustainability criteria.

ENDS

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