Three social housing units nearly ready for residents

A trio of new two-bedroom houses is replacing an old Kāinga Ora home past its use-by date in Port Chalmers.

Three new social housing homes, which have a wheelchair-accessible universal design, are nearly ready in Albertson Ave.

Contractor Trident Homes construction manager Mark McNabb said the houses were a big improvement on the homes that had previously occupied the lot.

"They’re massively different.

"They’re a pretty good build and really well insulated and there’s more bedrooms per site."

Trident had been building the houses since February and, after some landscaping, they will be handed over to Kāinga Ora at the end of September.

As a goodwill gesture for causing congestion on the one-way street, Trident was donating some sporting gear to Port Chalmers School.

Otago Southland and South Canterbury regional director Kerrie Young said the houses were a part of a development that would provide nine new social houses in Albertson Ave.

"The homes are a mix of one- and two-bedroom homes and will provide much-needed warm, dry housing for individuals and small families when they are completed."

The houses are replacements for older state homes no longer fit for purpose.

"Redeveloping existing properties to provide more new, warm and dry homes on the same site is one of the ways that Kāinga Ora is helping meet the urgent need for more social housing in Dunedin."

mark.john@odt.co.nz