18 Mar 2015

Push for housing development affordability

8:24 pm on 18 March 2015

A Labour Party MP wants the Government to introduce rules to ensure affordability for a new housing development in Christchurch.

Poto Williams.

Poto Williams is Labour's associate housing spokesperson Photo: LABOUR PARTY

Labour's associate housing spokesperson, Poto Williams, said information leaked to her revealed homes in a planned development will be sold for about $450,000.

But she said this amount was unaffordable for many families.

Ms Williams said the development was a good opportunity for the Government to introduce conditions to help ease housing pressures.

Ngai Tahu and the Christchurch Racecourse Reserve Trustees want to build 800 homes on the edge of Riccarton Racecourse, and the project has already had conditional backing to be fast-tracked by the Christchurch City Council.

To receive full backing, it will need to meet criteria for housing density, affordability and energy efficiency.

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