High-end apartments first off the blocks in solution for Wellington housing cost crisis

Wednesday, 4 December 2024

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The first cab off the ranks in Wellington’s newly allowed housing intensification will see an 1800s home bowled to make way for a high-end apartment block towering over the central suburb of Mount Victoria.

Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the six-storey complex, backing onto the Town Belt in the central suburb of Mount Victoria, was set to be the first built under increased height allowances permitted under a new council district plan. The council had received the resource consent and was still deciding how to handle it, including whether it would be publicly notified, he said.

While opposition to the “Mayfair” block – complete with outdoor heated pool, sauna, wellness centre and in-house cafe – is already under way, developer Mark Quinn saw it as a step towards rejuvenation of a city that had suffered a lot of recent bad news.

He hoped to start development in the second half of next year for an 18-month build and said being considerate of neighbours was forefront of mind. The building did not use the maximum land it could and he had taken the “rare” step of volunteering that four immediate neighbours be notified and could object.

It was made more possible after the Wellington City Council this year voted through sweeping changes to its district plan to allow more housing in the city. It means buildings of six storeys are allowed in several suburbs, including Crofton Downs, Khandallah and Ngaio. Mt Victoria, Aro Valley and Newtown had their character areas – where swathes of villas are protected from development – significantly reduced.

“We understand it is confronting for the neighbours,” Quinn said.

“This is what the council voted for, this is what the government backed up.”

The development is being opposed by Live Wellington with group member Phil Kelliher saying it won’t do any more to save the housing affordability crisis than “trickle down economics” did. It will replace a single villa on a 1472m2 section.

Kelliher said, under the old district plan, it would have been near-impossible to build an apartment of this scale at the site but the new rules made it possible with little scope for objection.

“It will no doubt be a lovely apartment building for those who can afford to live there. But there is a significant impact on those who already live in the area – through shade, increased traffic, loss of privacy and impact on the suburb’s character,” he said.

One of the main reasons for increased housing, agreed by many on the political left and right, was that opening up more room for intensive development was good for housing affordability.

“The evidence is as plain as day: cities that make it difficult to build more housing have housing affordability problems,” Housing Minister Chris Bishop said earlier this year.

Councillor Rebecca Matthews, one of the loudest cheerleaders for intensification, on Wednesday said even high-end housing improved affordability.

“[It] reduces price pressure on other more affordable options. I welcome this and all new housing in the city.”

Pukiehīnau/Lambton ward councillor Iona Pannett said would-be home owners were sold on the intensification with the promise of affordable homes.

“If it has a swimming pool, it is not affordable,” she said.

The 32 planned apartments in the six-storey block each came with their own car park which had to be accessed down a private road currently used by just four homes. It would also be “smack against the Town Belt”, blocking the view of the protected land.

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