14 June, 2019

Massive Lake Road development adds to traffic tsunami

A huge development of 48 new state houses on Lake Rd, including 36 car parks, is set to add a new wave of vehicles to the traffic already flooding the congested carriageway.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) has applied for a resource consent for the development, which includes two three-storey apartment blocks at the corner of Lake Rd and Bardia St, and an additional two duplexes on Tui St.

“The 48 new one- to four-bedroom homes will make better use of land and reflect the needs of our tenants and their families,” HNZ programme director Nick Seymour says.

Currently, there are 12 houses on the site, comprising of three weatherboard houses dating back to the 1940s, a 1950s weatherboard duplex and home, a 1950s brick-and-tile house and other ‘infill housing’ from the 1980s.

The properties’ capital values range from $640,000 (1/181 Lake Rd) to $1.025 million (10 Tui Street) and total $9.5 million.

The apartments and duplexes will be built to meet modern standards, including full insulation and double glazing.

“The site fronting Lake Road presents an opportunity to create higher density in the heart of an existing community, close to Belmont Primary School and Belmont Intermediate and near main transport routes,” HNZ says.

HNZ plans to build more new homes on the Devonport peninsula over the next few years, as it modernises its stock to meet demand.

In addition to the Belmont site, HNZ currently has a two-building development nearing completion at 391 Lake Rd in Hauraki, and is finalising plans to build on a vacant site at 100-102 Lake Rd in Narrow Neck.

HNZ has 263 state houses in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area.

Of the 12 properties in the current resource consent, 11 are occupied. HNZ says, whenever it needs to rehouse tenants it will talk to them about their preferred areas to live, their family and community connections, schools and medical centres they access, and other ties to specific areas.

Tenants are then matched to a suitable home, and given the chance to visit and accept the new house. HNZ supports tenants through the relocation process, paying to move their belongings and dispose of any unneeded items.

This article originally appeared in the June 14 edition of The Devonport Flagstaff. Download PDF.