Erskine College $30m housing project gets thumbs up from Island Bay residents

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

An artist's impression of the new 96 townhouse development proposed for Island Bay's heritage-listed Erskine College complex.

The $30m development of Erskine College has drawn a mainly positive response from about 100 people at an Island Bay Residents' Association meeting.

Wellington Company developer Ian Cassels gave an update on the 96-townhouse development at the meeting on Monday.

Architectural drawings of the renovated chapel in a proposed $30m housing redevelopment of Island Bay's heritage-listed Erskine College.

When Cassels revealed the project earlier in August, he said he hoped the community would support the project, which would be his last shot at developing the controversial site.

Cassels said on Tuesday the seaside Wellington suburb with a population of more than 8500 could absorb the extra pressure on its schools and its bus and road networks created by an extra 250 people.

The state of Erskine College at the end of May 2014

'We're not going to burst or break anything, the suburb will respond as it has to,' Cassels said.

**READ MORE:

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown and developer Ian Cassels at Erskine College.

* Chapel restored as plans for $30m Island Bay housing project at heritage site unveiled

* Erskine College made into special housing area by Wellington City Council

* Developer frustrated at inaction over Erskine

* Story of a seaside suburb: Island Bay**

The project – in a Wellington City Council designated special housing area – would include terraced houses and apartment units on parts of the 1.8-hectare property, a $7m restoration of its historic chapel and refurbishment of its wedding/function centre, a new early childcare facility and cafe, and restoration of the Reverend Mother's garden.

The 2013 Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act stipulates a streamlined consenting timeframe, including a reduction in notification provisions and appeal rights, which Cassels said was a 'breakthrough'.

The project would significantly boost Island Bay's economy and housing and breath fresh life into the dilapidated site. Cassels said most people were simply relieved something was finally happening.

The main sticking point was with residents of Avon St at the entrance to the site but he said those residents would be consulted to iron out any problems with construction and access.

The red-stickered derelict former Catholic boarding school has been under threat of demolition for years, with redevelopment hingeing on Save Erskine College Trust's demands that the chapel and gardens be saved.

It would resume its use as a wedding venue, which stopped when the chapel and adjoining convent building were red-stickered by Wellington City Council in 2012.

Residents association president Vicki Greco said people were generally happy with the design and the chapel restoration while concerns around stress on schools and infrastructure were seen as surmountable.

The Wellington Company has until mid-September to lodge a resource consent application to the council.