The Dunedin City Council confirmed Roger Fewtrell had received consents for an 18-lot development in Leicester St in North East Valley late last month, meaning he could now put the infrastructure work out to tender.
Mr Fewtrell hoped the work would start before Christmas.
"It’s sort of a two and a-half million dollar job putting all the infrastructure in — they’ll start putting all the roading in and the street lights, three waters, data, phones, power, all that sort of stuff.
"So that should start before Christmas and probably finish about May or June next year and then about next June or July, I guess, they’ll start building the houses."
It is part of his over-arching plan to eventually bring 250 affordable homes into the community — Mr Fewtrell is giving $100,000 towards people’s deposits for his homes out of a $25million giveaway from his fortune.
He would have an application process for the houses that would require prospective buyers to have a 10% deposit, he said.
So far, he has acquired enough land for 170 homes.
This includes the redevelopment of the historic former furniture factory on Rattray St, for which he has just received consent to turn into 12 two-bedroom apartments.
"Everything’s painfully slow. Everything takes forever.
"By the time you do geotech reports, HAIL reports, there’s just endless amount of red tape and reporting, most of which is unnecessary, I think."
He said the Rattray St development consent came with "about 50 conditions".
"It’ll lose money, of course. That’s the name of the game.
"But it’ll save the old building, though, and that’s what we’re doing it for."
The Rattray St project is due to go out for tender before Christmas and will take 18 months to complete.
Other projects include a recent purchase of the former Scout Hall in Pine Hill, which will be turned into apartments, while his Baldwin St development is in the early stages.
"There’s all sorts of bits and pieces all over the place, really."
