Special Housing Area progress in Nelson
3 March 2016

Betts Carpark recommended for inner city residential development

At a full Council meeting today, Council accepted the recommendation that it puts out a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) for the purchase of Betts Carpark for inner city residential development.

In late 2015, Council entered in to a Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 (HASHA) agreement with the Minister of Building and Housing, which led to Betts Carpark being designated as a Special Housing Area (SHA). The Housing Accord offers an opportunity to develop residential accommodation in inner city locations through a streamlined resource consent process.

The REOI will include specified design controls that will ensure high quality urban design outcomes, meets Special Housing Area requirements, and that any future development represents the outcomes sought by Council while providing a viable and attractive proposition for potential purchasers and developers.

In the Long Term Plan 2015-25, Council highlighted its intention to identify opportunities for enhancing the city’s economic and social vibrancy. Mayor Reese says the development will be good news for the vitality of Nelson’s inner city.

“We are driving forward on a range of initiatives to ensure our city centre continues to thrive. The development of Betts Carpark is one of these projects. Providing more opportunities for inner city living meets Council’s strategic goal to create a people-friendly central city.”

Mayor Reese says that Betts Carpark offers the perfect location for such a development.

“The site is a few minutes’ walk from Nelson’s hospitality and retail heart. It’s also an easy location from which to walk to the swimming pool, cinema and library.”

Betts Carpark is a vacant site 1182m2, located within the heart of Nelson at 343 Trafalgar Square. The site offers two road frontages in a prime location. It is close to the Nelson School of Music and major employers such as NMIT, the Cawthron Institute and Nelson hospital.

Nelson City Council seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced developers interested in purchasing and developing Betts Carpark in the Nelson Inner City Fringe Zone. REOI documents will be available online at nelson.govt.nz from Monday 7 March or to be collected from the Customer Service Centre.

The REOI creates no obligation on Council to sell Betts Carpark. Expressions of interest must be received by Council by 4 April. Resource consent applications under HASHA must be submitted prior to September 2016, and construction complete within two years of obtaining resource consent.

Additional Special Housing Areas Added

Council has also agreed to the addition of a further SHA at Beach Road, with this area to be recommended to the Minister of Building and Housing for consideration.

The previously identified Saxton Special Housing area was approved to be extended, and that it would be recommended to the Minister as a SHA once master plan conditions had been met.
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