100 new homes: Kainga Ora announces major new builds across Gisborne city

This map shows the blocks where Kāinga Ora is proposing to build 24 new homes on the corners of Endeavour Street and Centennial Crescent in Te Hapara. People will have the chance to find out more about the housing agency’s plans for 100 new homes in Gisborne, at a drop-in clinic on Tuesday. Picture supplied

Plans have been announced to build 100 new state homes across Gisborne.

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities will be sharing its plans at a drop-in session on Tuesday at the Kāinga Ora offices in Peel Street (next to the old Post office Building) between 4pm and 6pm.

“We have early plans to build a further 100 new warm, dry, healthy homes on sites in Te Hapara, Mangapapa, Elgin and Kaiti,” said Naomi Whitewood (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi), regional director for  Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities East North Island.

“We are interested in feedback from our communities on these plans before they progress further,”  she said.

“The areas where we are proposing to build are on our existing land that we need to make better use of. This may be because the land is vacant due to a house fire or a demolition. It may also be where we can replace our much older houses on large sections with more modern, warm and dry homes.”

Nineteen of the proposed new homes would be accessible to people with mobility challenges. They would be built to Full Universal Design standards.

In Te Hapara 13 homes between Childers Road and Totara Street are planned.

Another 24 homes are planned for two sites across the road from each other on the corner of Endeavour Street and Centennial Crescent.

“In Elgin our plans are for 13 homes on the corner of Queens Road and Karaka Street, plus a further three new homes in Manuka Street.

“In Mangapapa six homes across two sites are proposed for Valley Road and another three homes in Winter Street.”

Kaiti would see an additional 16 homes, over two sites in Tyndall Road and six homes on the corner of Glasgow Crescent and Ranfurly Street. Another 16 homes would be built on eight sites throughout Kaiti.

“These are either one or two homes on each site.

“Neighbours to all the sites where we are proposing to develop new housing have received an invitation to the drop-in session. However, anyone with an interest in public housing is welcome to come along and find out about our plans.

“We will also have information available about the recent changes to our financial products that will help people into first home ownership.

“I must emphasise that the plans we are presenting are early plans that are subject to design and refinement. No plans for these homes have been lodged for resource consent and they are all subject to Gisborne District Council’s infrastructure capacity.

“In Gisborne we have 28 new homes in progress. This includes homes that are in construction or in procurement. There are also 137 new homes in progress that Kāinga Ora is contracted to purchase from a developer once they are completed.”