Land behind Wakefield’s existing pensioner flats could become home to eight more affordable one-bedroom units for older residents – but only if the demand exists.
Homes for Wakefield members, Sonja Lamers, Anna Naygrow and Richard Martin, are urging older locals who want to stay in their community in an affordable rental to put their name on the Tasman District Council’s rental housing list.
The existing seven flats are one-bedroom homes with affordable rents that were designed specifically for older people – such as with higher toilets, as one resident pointed out. As the community grows and ages, the trio say there will be an increasing need for these homes and the land is available, close to the village centre.
“This is bare land just sitting here,” Richard says. “If we do nothing, nothing will happen.”
A 2021 survey confirmed a need for smaller, affordable homes in the community, but they point out the new builds in the area are not the low-cost, one-bedroom units suitable for pensioners. Without new flats, they say some elderly residents may be forced to move to Richmond or elsewhere.
“The last thing you want is to leave the community you have been a part of for so long,” Anna says.
“It’s home. There’s a growing population in Wakefield and there is going to be a growing need for these (homes).”
As the general population ages, Richard says Nelson is going to be “chokka” with older people”, and Wakefield is the ideal place for its own ageing community as it has a medical centre, chemist, and easy walking distances to busses and a supermarket.
“In the past, retired people have effectively been forced to Richmond because there’s no provisions for them to stay in Wakefield.”
They have talked with central Government as well as community housing providers to explore options and it comes down to funding, which they say is in short supply and unlikely to be forthcoming in the short term. Sonja says the council does not have the ability to build more houses on its own and the Government’s funding settings do not extend to new social housing outside the main town centres.
A public-private partnership (PPP) could be an option that involves collaboration between the council and a private developer. She says that has been done in Golden Bay and is a possibility for Wakefield.
But for anything to happen, she says, the community has to prove there is demand for the housing, which means older locals interested in an affordable one-bedroom rental need to have their name on the waiting list with the council.
Applications for council housing can be made online here. By doing that, Sonja says the community will have the proof it needs to hopefully attract funding for more pensioner flats at Pearless Place.
