A rundown collection of seaside Air Force buildings in Wellington is set to be turned into an extensive waterfront development.
The former Air Force base at Shelly Bay will become a Special Housing Area (SHA) - one of three more announced for the capital today by Housing Minister Nick Smith and Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
The Shelly Bay site was owned by the Defence Force for 120 years. In 2008 it was transferred to iwi collective Taranaki Whanui. Photo: RNZ / Michael Cropp
Dr Smith said the new Shelly Bay SHA doubled the size of the the one site established in July, and will allow for an increase from 150 to 300 houses, with a mix of both residential and commercial development.
The development will now include the wharf, which Dr Smith said might allow for its redevelopment for ferry services to Wellington's CBD in the future.
It will be co-developed by the Wellington Company and Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust.
In special housing areas, applications for subdivisions are fast-tracked and have to be processed in a matter of months rather than years.
Dr Smith said the waterfront development would contribute to housing affordability by increasing supply.
"The overall purpose of the Special Housing Areas is to grow the overall affordability of cities. All the economic data is that it is the limit of supply that overall impacts on that."
The new areas bring the total in Wellington to 24, with a total combined capacity of around 2750 houses.
Special Housing Areas announced today are:
- Shelly Bay: 7.32ha, 300 homes altogether
- Glanmire Road, Newlands: 0.18ha, 15 homes
- Mein Street, Newtown: 0.63ha, 15 homes
The Shelly Bay site on Wellington's Miramar Peninsula was owned by the Defence Force for more than 120 years. It was first a Naval Base and from 1946 it was transferred to the Air Force to accommodate staff.
In 2009, the land was handed over to the local iwi collective Taranaki Whanui when it settled historical grievances with the Crown.
Taranaki Whanui is now represented by the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust.
Lead developer Ian Cassels said the site would be a community focused area, with a restaurant and bar on the newly-developed waterfront.
The old wharf at Shelly Bay. Photo: RNZ / Michael Cropp
The Shelly Bay site will become a Special Housing Area. Photo: RNZ / Michael Cropp