Move for more affordable housing. supported

Monday, 15 June 2015, 4:16 pm
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

Innovative construction industry supports government move for more affordable housing.

Leading industry stakeholder groups applaud the government’s announcement to release Auckland land parcels for affordable housing development and encourage stronger leadership to deliver more quality housing more quickly.

PrefabNZ, the hub for prebuilt construction, represents the designers and makers of innovative offsite technologies. New Zealand’s design and construction sector has a wealth of experience and technical capability in prefabrication where large chunks of building parts or panels are brought to site ready-made.

From giant Lego-like pieces these homes can be delivered up to 50% faster, at higher quality from parts being made in controlled conditions, and with savings up to 15% in construction cost.

Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is the peak body for the community housing sector. It builds sector capability as well as the reputation of the sector by showcasing its achievements and reinforcing its business and community models.

PrefabNZ and CHA support increased government leadership in the following areas of fit-for-purpose housing delivery:

• affordability – delivery of 100% of these homes at the Retained Affordable price point value - if government comes to the party with reduced or deferred expectations of land value

• quality – delivery of purpose-built homes above the building code

• timeliness – delivery of a shortened construction period helps improve affordability with possible savings of over 6 months from conventional methods

• productivity – delivery of more efficiently produced housing through increased use of offsite construction

“Now is the time to take advantage of larger scale land and procurement opportunities to deliver better made housing and increase the productivity of New Zealand’s construction industry,” says PrefabNZ Chief Executive Pamela Bell. “We should be looking to Singapore government’s successful combination of
incentives in cash, logistical support and training to produce better housing solutions, faster.”

Singapore’s Construction Productivity and Capability Fund assists firms with technology adoption and workforce development to push work offsite and improve building quality.

CHA Director Scott Figenshow says that government has the opportunity here to provide the crown land on terms that ensure affordability is delivered and retained long term.

“Delivering a full continuum of housing choices, from affordable rental through to pathways to ownership, is the hallmark of the community housing sector. We can do that in partnership with government and commercial partners – as long as the settings are right for the best outcomes for families and communities”

Mr Figenshow said. “We welcome the opportunity to formally engage with Government to get those settings right. Community housing providers haven’t been able to access the benefits that prebuilt construction can offer, given the historic stop-start and short-term nature of our funding. This is an opportunity to change that – and why wouldn’t Government want to do that?

ends

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Community Housing Aotearoa

Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa

Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing.

Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right.

We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing.

We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone.

Community Housing Aotearoa aims to:

1. be the voice of the community housing sector
2. build capacity and foster collaboration
3. promote best practice in housing policy
4. champion quality and excellence.

Contact Community Housing Aotearoa

• Website - communityhousing.org.nz/
• Our Place - Learn how we think this can be achieved
• Phone - +64 4 385 8722
• About us - Our 2021 annual report is online here
• Email - support@communityhousing.org.nz
• Link - Members directory
• Physical Address - Level 11, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace/102-112 Lambton Quay, Wellington