10 Dec 2015

Fears Shelly Bay housing will be too expensive

11:58 am on 10 December 2015

A major housing development planned for Wellington is being criticised by a community housing organisation as unaffordable for people on a regular income.

The Shelly Bay site will become a Special Housing Area.

The Shelly Bay site will become a Special Housing Area. Photo: RNZ / Michael Cropp

The former Air Force base at Shelly Bay will become a Special Housing Area - one of three announced yesterday.

The areas were created under the accord with the government, to fast-track some developments and improve the supply and affordability of homes.

However, promotional material showed prices of the 300 homes at Shelly Bay could range from $600,000 to $3.5 million.

Community Housing Aotearoa director Scott Figenshow said those homes would be out of reach for those on an average income.

"The Auckland accord provides for it, would've thought that should've been a feature in the Wellington accord.

"And if that was the case then having Shelly Bay as one of the Special Housing Areas, it would mean we'd know we were getting some truly affordable housing in it."

The site and the two other other Special Housing Areas in Wellington - smaller developments in the suburbs of Newtown and Newlands - bring to 24 the number of new SHAs in Wellington.