Split views among neighbours of New Plymouth's newest central city public housing development

Sunday, 22 May 2022

The three-storey complex is expected to be complete in the middle of next year. This is an artist’s impression of the final product.

Welcomed by some and feared by others – a new 45-unit public housing complex in central New Plymouth is ruffling feathers among its neighbours even before its foundations have been poured.

The three-storey social housing development is being built by Soho Group Ltd, on the corner of Leach and Cameron streets, and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

The two-block complex, to be run by Kāinga Ora, will be made up of 23 two-bedroom units and 22 one-bedroom units. The units are planned to be long term homes for public housing, and will be matched to people and families from the Housing Register.

* Three-storey public housing complex being built in central New Plymouth

New Plymouth Motorcycle Centre owner Derek Hosking has “concerns” about the public housing complex that is being built next door to his business.

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This Kāinga Ora social housing development in Rangiora, by Rohan Collett Architects, has won a Housing – Multi Unit award. (Video first published March 2022)

Some neighbours have raised concerns about a lack of consultation and the impact of public housing on the value of their properties, in an area where some houses are priced above $1 million.

Others have welcomed the development, saying people in need should have a place to call home, and have criticised their neighbours for judging the complex before it is built.

As a result, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, which will take ownership of the property, is planning to host an online information session to give the community an opportunity to ask questions.

New Plymouth Motorcycle Centre owner Derek Hosking is one of those who has concerns.

Jaidene McDowell, holding 1-year-old daughter Aria D'Ath, welcomes the development.

Hosking’s business, which he opened more than 25 years ago, sits next door to the development – he even sold a section to Soho.

His original understanding was that “upmarket apartments” were being built.

When someone from the council told him the plans, he said his initial reaction was: “Total disaster, why did I do that?”

Hosking feared he had “helped lower house prices” in the area and felt “frustrated” that he, and other neighbours, had not been consulted.

He said he was also worried about the “security aspect” of his business if “they put the wrong people in there”.

The divide in opinion was something New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom could understand. (File photo)

Other business owners, and neighbours who spoke to Stuff but did not want to be named, shared similar views to Hosking.

But Jaidene McDowell, who has lived in the area for about six months, thought otherwise.

“It would be great to have those homes for people who don’t have anywhere to live.”

The 20-year-old, who lives in Lemon St with daughter Aria D’Ath, 1, compared the development to a new neighbour moving in next door.

“I get some people can be trouble. But if you don’t want to have anything to do with them, then don’t.”

An elderly woman, who had lived in a state house in the area for 20 years and asked not to be named, had heard the neighbours were unhappy about the development.

“People can be so judgmental, looking down their noses. They are just judging them before they have even come here.”

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said tackling the public housing shortage with such developments, while easing the concerns of neighbours, was a “difficult balancing act”.

Graeme Broderick, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities regional director, said information sessions on the project would be held for the community later this month. (File photo)

“These are our people,” he said. “We have to accommodate them. We need to invest in social housing.”

Latest figures from Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, show there were 773 Taranaki people on the public housing register in March.

Holdom said he also understood why people nearby had concerns and said it was “disappointing” that neighbours said they were not notified or consulted.

He did not think the location of such a big complex was “quite right”, as the area was already congested.

Plus, there was only space for about 18 car parks on site, which is allowed under government policy, but “will have a negative impact”, Holdom said.

However, he said some of the issues neighbours were predicting “will not come to fruition”.

Soho development manager Brad Davis said there tended to be an “initial kickback” when the company started developing public homes but there was also “positive feedback”.

However, as Kāinga Ora took over the properties, he could not give an insight into how other developments had been received once occupied.

In an emailed statement sent by the Kāinga Ora media team, regional director for Taranaki, Whanganui, and Manawatū, Graeme Broderick, said he was aware of concerns.

Broderick said the usual process when Kāinga Ora was looking at developments on its own land included “early engagement with the local community, to keep them informed and allow the chance for feedback”.

However, with developments like this, which the government agency did not own until it was built “our ability to undertake early engagement is not always possible”, he said.

Broderick said they would host an information session later this month.

Correction: The units are planned to be long term homes for public housing, not short term tenancies as mentioned in an earlier version of this story.