Proposed redevelopment to increase housing options in Glen Innes

Housing New Zealand is proposing to begin a major redevelopment in Glen Innes next year as part of the Tamaki Transformation Programme.

The proposed northern Glen Innes redevelopment project will help to cater for future growth in Tamaki by increasing overall housing in the area, including more options to own homes or to rent from community housing providers.

“The proposals will redevelop state housing in Glen Innes to achieve a better mix of state, affordable rental and privately owned homes – while Housing New Zealand will increase state house numbers in other parts of Auckland over the next five years to match demand for housing from those in greatest need,” said Sean Bignell, General Manager Assets Redevelopment for Housing New Zealand.

The project proposes the redevelopment of 156 properties in northern Glen Innes to create at least 260 new homes, including 78 that Housing New Zealand will own, at least 39 owned by other social or community housing providers, and the remainder for private sale. It also proposes modernising another 40 state houses in the project area.

“The vision for Tamaki is to help the economy to grow, make the community safer and more connected, and create more housing choice for residents, including creating more opportunities for home ownership,” Mr Bignell said.

“We will begin an Expression of Interest process this week to shortlist developers who wish to partner with us for the northern Glen Innes redevelopment project. We hope to appoint the partners for the project in February 2012 and they will manage the design, consenting and development over the next three to five years.”

At some stage, tenants in the affected properties will need to move to other state homes.

“Housing New Zealand will help them with that but it is still a long way off and for the time-being all tenants can stay in their homes,” Mr Bignell said.

“We will be working closely with residents, the wider community and the Tamaki Transformation Programme and have made this a condition for any partner we appoint to work with us.”

Housing New Zealand currently manages 30,600 properties in Auckland. Based on current forecasts across the broader Auckland area, the Corporation anticipates an overall increase in the number of state homes across the city by around 1400 over the next five years to meet demand.

“The number of state houses in different suburbs across Auckland will fluctuate over time as we buy, sell and redevelop housing to reduce concentrations and achieve a better performing and better mix of state, social and privately owned homes,” Mr Bignell said.

The Corporation also plans to improve 14,500 state houses in Auckland over the next five years. Improvements range from minor work such as installing insulation and heating, to full interior refurbishments.

Any tenants with questions or concerns can phone Housing New Zealand on 0800 801 601 or email tamaki.housingnz@hnzc.co.nz

Media contact: Marie Winfield, marie.winfield@hnzc.co.nz, 09 261 5239, 021 245 0709.

Background information: The northern Glen Innes redevelopment project

The northern Glen Innes redevelopment project is Housing New Zealand’s first significant mixed-ownership property development.

It is part of a major renovation of state housing to put the right houses in the right place to better match the demand from those in need.

The redevelopment will see a small reduction in state housing in Glen Innes; however this will be balanced out by redevelopment and reconstruction projects already underway or about to get underway across other parts of Tamaki and Auckland.

Housing New Zealand currently has 57 percent of the housing in Tamaki, which is too much. The northern Glen Innes redevelopment project should see that reduce to 53 percent.

The overall vision for housing in Tamaki will see the economy grow, make the community safer and more connected, and create new opportunities for residents, including home ownership.

It will help cater for future growth in the area and Auckland as a whole, and the anticipated short-fall in housing in Auckland over the next few decades.

Housing improvements in Tamaki will be staged, and every stage will be unique and include different proportions of state housing, private home ownership, and properties owned or managed by community housing organisations.

The Interim Tamaki Transformation Board

Tamaki is a priority area for both the Auckland Council and the Government.

The Interim Tamaki Transformation Board, Auckland Council and the Government are currently looking at options for establishing a future urban regeneration and development agency to lead the transformation of Tamaki.

A new urban development agency would take responsibility for managing future development projects.

The Expression of Interest Process

A request for Expressions of Interest will be advertised in late September.

The EOI seeks partners who can demonstrate cost effectiveness, innovation and the ability to work collaboratively with government agencies, relevant authorities and the community. It also looks for knowledge and experience in good urban design, attractive and functional house design, ‘future proofing’ and incorporating sustainability principles that reduce the whole of life household running costs.

Partners may include private developers, not for profit organisations and iwi groups, or a combination of these groups.

Once appointed, the successful partner/s will lead the design, consenting, financing, development, marketing and sales for the redevelopment, in consultation with Housing New Zealand and Tamaki Transformation Programme partners.

Depending on the outcome of the EOI process, it is expected that proposed redevelopment plans will be available in mid-2012 and physical works will start late 2012.

The mixed-use approach

In the future, social housing in Tamaki will be provided by a range of housing organisations, not just Housing New Zealand.

There will still be the same number of social rental houses at below market rent, but the percentage of state houses is expected to decrease.

The Government’s newly established Social Housing Unit will be supporting the growth of social housing provided by third sector organisations (that is, alternative, non-Government providers) in Auckland and across the country.

Tenant support and information

Housing New Zealand will communicate our plans to tenants who are both directly and indirectly affected, and will commit to keep in contact with them over the coming months.

This will include talking individually to all affected families about plans for the redevelopment, timing for relocation, and how Housing New Zealand can help them with moving.

Any tenants with questions or concerns can contact us by phoning the Corporation on 0800 801 601 or email tamaki.housingnz@hnzc.co.nz

Affected tenants can remain in their homes until at least mid-2012. When we are ready to start the redevelopment, affected tenants will be offered new state homes and help to move. This will occur over several months.