Revised plans for Arlington site propose 104 new homes for Wellington

The plan depends on Wellington City Council approving a variation to Kainga Ora’s existing lease of the site, with a decision expected in late September. It is also subject to detailed investment case and the necessary building and resource consents being approved.

Sarah Willson, Regional Director Greater Wellington, says the proposed plan is the most cost-effective way for the agency to deliver much-needed additional social housing in the central city.

“After cost escalations prompted us to pause our original plans for the site, we explored several alternate options for providing social housing at the Arlington development.

“This revised plan makes the best commercial sense and ensures the best possible use of public funding while delivering homes where they’re needed,” Sarah Willson says. “We’re planning to reconfirm this through detailed planning and financial work in the coming months to ensure the proposal is sound and affordable.”

The new plans address demand for both one-bedroom and larger family homes by providing:

• 55 one-bedroom and 37 two-bedroom apartments in a seven-storey building.
• 12 four-bedroom terrace homes.
• A community room where tenants can gather.

Foundations laid during the original enabling works will be reused in the proposed new development to minimise waste and help deliver the new homes faster.

Subject to approvals, construction is expected to begin in late 2027 and finish in late 2029.  The development will be funded through the Kāinga Ora renewals programme, which reinvests proceeds from the sale of older homes into new and improved social housing.

Sarah Willson says Kāinga Ora is unable to release the estimated cost of the proposed new development. “Once approved, we’ll run a competitive tender process to select a contractor so it would be inappropriate for us to release expected costs until after that process is complete.

“However, we can confirm that we are expecting it to cost significantly less than the original project. We’ll reconfirm this through the detailed investment case to ensure the proposal is sound and affordable.

“We’re anticipating the revised plan will provide a much-needed boost to social housing in central Wellington and will allow for further housing development at Arlington, which we’ll work through with Wellington City Council,” Sarah Willson says.

New indicative site plans for the Arlington Street development