The council believes these solutions will help address issues including home ownership
The Wellington City Council has released a 30-piece tool kit, proposing to tackle housing affordability, availability and quality as the capital faces increasing housing demand over the next 25 years.
The housing strategy contains the 30 solutions the council believes will address the city’s unique housing needs, including home ownership.
“Wellington’s geography, with the harbour on one side and the town belt on the other, naturally limits sprawl,” says Wellington Mayor Justin Lester. “But as a city that is growing fast, there’s an urgent need to address a variety of issues at the same time.”
“Homelessness is an urgent issue and, at the same time, so is student accommodation, the quality of rentals and whether or not people can afford to buy their own home,” said Lester.
The 30 solutions include a $5000 rates remission for first home builders, looking at opportunities to turn underused buildings into affordable central city apartments, and making the process of applying for a building consent easier.
“We are looking at everything in our arsenal, from our own social housing, to financial incentives, to cutting red tape, to partnerships,” the Mayor said. “This is the outcome of 18 months of hard work by officers, councillors and community groups.”
The council also says it intends to work closely with the government regarding the matter.
Minister for Housing Phil Twyford praised the initiative, saying the housing strategy is about “ensuring future generations of Wellingtonians have good, decent homes.”
“It’s as much for the Wellingtonians of today as it is for the Wellingtonians of the future,” he said.
Of the 30 solutions, Wellington City Councillor and Housing Portfolio Leader Brian Dawson said the Wellington Housing Affordability Model (WHAM) is the most innovative. It is currently being tested and external peer reviews include Sense Partners economists Shamubeel Eaqub and Kirdan Lees.
“We support a housing system that looks after our most vulnerable communities,” said Dawson.
The council’s City Housing Committee will meet to consider the capital’s Housing Strategy on June 21.
