Jeweller to put homes on course

An artist's impression of one of the dwellings around Michael Hill's golf course at Arrowtown.

Jeweller Michael Hill has been given the green light to begin developing an exclusive 17-lot luxury subdivision at his Arrowtown golf course The Hills.

Hill, who will keep one of the properties for himself, has been given resource consent to build the custom designed houses around the 18-hole course which has been home to the New Zealand Open since 2007.

The Hills general manager Sam Gent said it was too soon to say when construction would begin on the houses, which are being designed by architect Andrew Patterson.

"The project manager is in place, we are working on the feasibility of it all and looking at all the options at the moment."

Gent said while the expectation was that it would mainly be foreign American investors who bought the properties, members of the course had also expressed an interest.

Price tags have yet to be attached to the homes but Gent did not anticipate any problem selling the properties despite the recession and global economic crisis.

"I don't think it will be a problem. The people who will buy these are in a different league.

"It's not going to be your medium house price range."

The properties are being designed with sustainability in mind with the houses, ranging in size from 400sq m to 1000sq m, designed to blend in with the landscape.

The development also includes ecological restoration work involving major plantings to foster native species along with a working farm.

There will also be a local reserve and play area planned for the community as well as a nursery and garden to sustain the 17 households.

Gent said there had not been any appeals to the consent process. She would not comment on where the funding for the development had come from.

Hill said the development was a long-term vision.

"There has been a tremendous amount of support from the community and a huge amount of expertise involved so far."