The Nelson Tasman Housing Trust has received a $1.2 million grant from the Nelson City Council for a planned new affordable housing development in Nelson South. The grant, from the council's housing reserve fund, will go towards the development of eight two-bedroom homes on a property between Waimea Rd and Kawai St. Trust director Carrie Mozena said the grant was a "game-changer", and would enable NTHT to leverage further funding from Government and other sources for the project.
"We applaud Nelson City Council's initiative,'' she said. “We can’t do what we do without significant support from Council and the community."
The site currently has two houses built in the 1940s on it, which will eventually be removed to make way for the development. The eight new units will be designed to be warm and energy-efficient and will have photovoltaic panels to reduce the cost of power. At least two units will be wheelchair accessible.
The estimated cost of the development is $4.2 million and NTHT has applied for further funding for it from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's Affordable Housing Fund and the Rātā Foundation. All going well, construction could begin next year and be completed by March 2025.
Here is a press release from the council on the grant and a Stuff article on the planned development.