Christchurch City Council has given the go-ahead for up to 22 new social housing units to be built across the city by the end of 2013.
The decision comes after recent comments by Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee that the council has been taking too long to replace quake-damaged properties.
Of the council's 2649 social housing units, 453 have still not been repaired.
Tenders will go out next week for the design and construction of between eight and 12 one-bedroom units in Spreydon and eight to 10 one-bedroom units in Aranui.
The council says it is looking at other sites that might be available for the construction of social housing units and is also exploring public/private partnership opportunities.
Meanwhile, the value of commercial building consent applications in Christchurch in the year to the end of February was $528.8 million, topping figures for the previous six years.
A city councillor, Sue Wells, says the annual figure is now $100 million higher than it was three years ago and she expects next year's figure to be even higher.
She says the trend will create more building activity, jobs and money in the city.
