11 December 2019
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Ashworth Villas housing development
Enquiry
I've been told by the developers and marketers of Ashworth Villas that this development is now stalled as a result of issues getting resource consent.
They are to today and tomorrow deliver letters to the buyers who had unconditional offers and had paid their deposits, letting them out of their contracts as the Holmes Group believe it's not fair to keep delaying them.
They hope to still develop the land as planned and will re-look at the project in 2020 but for now are letting the buyers out of their contracts out of fairness.
Can someone at the council please answer the following questions?
- Can you please explain why the development has been unable to get resource consent? What have the storm water issues been?
- Why has it taken so long for this process?
- Does the council believe its resource consent process/delays in this instance are reasonable?
- Is there any comment you can make about how disappointing this is especially given our housing crisis and how delayed developments impact the city's need to increase its housing stock?
Feel free to add anything else you think is relevant.
Response
From Jason Ward, Planning and Development Manager:
Council has been working with the Holmes Group since before their application was lodged on 22 August 2018 and will continue to work with them through to the issuing of a resource consent. Council has just received the last pieces of information from the Holmes Group and will now work through the complete application as part of the consent process.
