Housing policy adopted

The Central Otago District Council has determined that all developments on council-owned land will include different housing typologies, including smaller and more intensified housing options that would typically be sold at a lower price point.

At the Council meeting yesterday (Wednesday 24 August), councillors discussed a report that asked them to approve a policy that would ensure the use of different types of housing in developments on council-owned land. These include detached, terraced and low-rise apartments.

The combination of these different types of houses and the number will be dependent on the market demand. These housing types are more affordable than the traditional standalone houses seen in Central Otago, and Council will lead the way in offering these types of houses to the market.

The new policy will be applied to the next stages of the Gair Avenue development in Cromwell and the Pines development in Alexandra. Councillors have requested further advice on eligibility criteria that could be applied to the sale of the smaller footprint housing options

to help get local buyers into the market who might not be otherwise able to afford a property. That advice will go to a meeting of the new council once it is developed.

While it was agreed a policy was necessary so that lower cost housing would be a consideration in council developments, it prompted wider discussion at the meeting about what else could be put in place to house, attract and retain a workforce in the district.