Post by Brent George on Nov 2, 2022 18:55:00 GMT
Hutt Church frustrated at Council delays over housing consents
Stuff - National: 3-Nov-2022
Lower Hutt church leader Wayne Kirkland is getting used to “radio silence” from the Hutt City Council as he tries to build much-needed community housing.
In a housing crisis, one might think that building eight community houses on surplus church land in Taita would be relatively straightforward. The housing would be rented to people who cannot afford to buy a new house or are struggling with high rents.
But Kirkland, who is the project manager for the Anglican diocese and has been waiting 11 months for consents, is growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of action from council planners. “We have just got nothing but radio silence,” he said.
The long wait comes despite Kirkland hiring a firm staffed with former council employees to submit the application, hoping their knowledge would be help expedite the process by avoiding fish hooks in the consenting process.
Other developers have also complained that the Hutt council’s consenting process is “broken” and it was taking far too long to hear back about applications.
Stuff - National: 3-Nov-2022
Lower Hutt church leader Wayne Kirkland is getting used to “radio silence” from the Hutt City Council as he tries to build much-needed community housing.
In a housing crisis, one might think that building eight community houses on surplus church land in Taita would be relatively straightforward. The housing would be rented to people who cannot afford to buy a new house or are struggling with high rents.
But Kirkland, who is the project manager for the Anglican diocese and has been waiting 11 months for consents, is growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of action from council planners. “We have just got nothing but radio silence,” he said.
The long wait comes despite Kirkland hiring a firm staffed with former council employees to submit the application, hoping their knowledge would be help expedite the process by avoiding fish hooks in the consenting process.
Other developers have also complained that the Hutt council’s consenting process is “broken” and it was taking far too long to hear back about applications.