Steady progress on developments for housing in Flaxmere

The concept design for the development at 72 Caernarvon Drive, which adjoins the Flaxmere College playing fields.

Preparing council-owned land for additional housing in Flaxmere has taken another step with potential developers now being considered to build more than 150 new homes in the suburb.

In July, council put out the call for developers with the necessary track record, experience, capability and capacity to submit formal proposals to build the houses at three sites – 244 Flaxmere Ave, 72 Caernarvon Drive and an area of the Flaxmere town centre.

The responses are currently being evaluated, and will then be shortlisted and more detailed plans provided.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the three projects are major contributors to the high level of housing activity, by both private and public organisations, across the district.

“All around Hastings there are houses being built - from the city centre to Frimley, across to Mahora and out to Havelock North – it’s some of the highest levels of home building activity we have seen.

“Providing homes for our people is one of our council’s top priorities. We have had a huge focus on getting development underway on council-owned land as fast as possible, but also working with our private and public partners to help enable their projects across the district.”

Investigation and design work has started on the land to the west of the current Flaxmere town centre, where provision is being made for about 80 houses, although this may reduce should a new supermarket be built in part of the northern area.

 Resource Consent to create the main road network for the subdivision was granted in July this year.

 The design of the town centre is being developed following best practice urban design and subdivision guidelines, with the end result expected to include trees, indented parking, modern street lighting and poles with flag banners.

A new stormwater pipeline to take stormwater from both the Town Centre and 72 Caernarvon Drive developments to Portsmouth Road and a replacement trunk watermain along the development frontage of Caernarvon Drive are being included as part of this development.

At this stage the programme is on track to have a physical works contract awarded in October this year, with contractors on the ground in November. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2022.

Alongside this work,Council’s parks and property team is working with the community on the design for a new skate park and court space in Flaxmere Park, due to the existing facilities being removed by the road construction.

Community consultation has confirmed the site at Flaxmere Park, on the corner of Henderson Rd and Swansea, is the preferred location.

A draft concept plan for the facility is now being prepared and is expected to be ready for public feedback at the end of September, after which final design and construction plans will be prepared closer to Christmas. Depending on the availability of contractors, it is hoped that construction work will start in April next year.

Council officers are also working with Basketball Hawke’s Bay, Basketball New Zealand and Sport Hawke’s Bay to deliver a new court on Flaxmere Park (beside the stage) as part of the Hoops in Parks initiative.

At 72 Caernarvon Drive, the land which adjoins the Flaxmere College playing fields, pre-development investigations are complete with Resource Consent about to be lodged. It is estimated this site could comprise 60 stand-alone residential dwellings, with space for a neighbourhood reserve.

Development at 244 Flaxmere Avenue, estimated to contain about 35 dwellings, is proceeding at pace with resource consent granted in July this year.

Meanwhile, the Tarbet St development is complete with SoHo Group currently in the construction phase for 18 social homes for the Ministry of Social Development. Sales of the 17 affordable sites are progressing well with 13 of the sites sold at the end of August. Of the remaining four sites, one is under contract with three others in the due diligence phase. 

10 September 2021

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