Demolition of eight older persons’ units in Friendship Lane was entering its completion phase late last week (pictured).
The 1970s housing has been cleared to make way for eight modern and warm units.
It is the start of rebuilding 16 of the 51 district council affordable housing units in Friendship Lane.
District council group manager business support Leanne Macdonald said the total project would cost just under $4m, and greatly enhance the quality of the stock of elderly persons housing units in the town.
Forty-three per cent of the cost will be covered by an Affordable Housing Fund government grant.
“The old ones had got to the stage where they did not comply with Healthy Homes standards and the design made them hard to heat, as well as maintain and renovate. It was actually cheaper to start again.”
The last of the tenants in the 16 units to go, moved out at the end of July.
“We had planned to do the rebuild in two stages, but we’ve been able to relocate all the tenants and so we can do it in one go, which will ultimately save time and money.’’
