Despite the Special Housing Accord (SHA) being declined, the proposed Te Awa Lakes development is forging ahead utilising the Private Plan Change process to rezone the land in Horotiu from industrial to residential.
“Hamilton City Council supported the SHA and despite meeting the criteria, it was disappointing when central government declined this application”, said Richard Coventry, Chief Executive. Perry Group have now resumed their Private Plan Change which is reasonably advanced as this was the initial consent process undertaken before pursuing the SHA application. This sees the project well down the track to resolve the issues raised during the submission process.
The 62 hectare development is set to get underway in 2020 with services such as infrastructure, piping water and waste water already in place on the site with enough capacity for the full development. This will enable much needed residential housing to get underway quickly, and due to the mixed-use medium density of this development, a proportion will be affordable housing.
As part of the Private Plan Change process, a commissioners’ hearing has been scheduled to start on Monday 25 November 2019 at Hamilton City Council. For further information on the Te Awa Lakes process click on the link to take you through to the Hamilton City Council website
The project has continued to receive a positive response from the wider community, neighbours and local businesses who are keen to be involved and see this transformational development come to life. “Our very clear vision is to create a mixed-use, integrated community with a new way of living for the region,” said Richard Coventry. “We believe that Te Awa Lakes will provide better economic benefits and opportunities for the region versus keeping the land industrial under the status quo and we are committed to doing more for our river, our iwi and our communities.”