Clutha District councillors voted unanimously last week to support a new community working group to launch a house-and-land package project in the town, about halfway between Balclutha and Gore on State Highway 1.
A group of civic-minded locals in Kaitangata made international headlines in 2016 when it began to promote affordable house-and-land packages in the former coal-mining stronghold.
The campaign took off after it was picked up by international media and, at the time, led to tens of thousands of inquiries from across the world.
After last week’s council corporate and policy meeting in Balclutha, working group chairman Benji Perry said he hoped to break ground on the first "demo run" build before Christmas.
"It’s all coming together really well and we’re excited to get things happening. In line with the goals of the project, we have a chap with a young family keen to buy the first house. Working families with kids are what we need [in Clinton] right now, but we want to look at other, vulnerable, groups down the track such as good local people who have retired and want to get their own house in town.
"Council has helped us identify seven sections that are suitable for the project as a start, and there are several other older properties in town where the house could be replaced with a new build down the track."
Mr Perry said sections were selling for about $50,000 at present.
The working group planned to partner with Coast to Coast kitset homes to provide affordable packages which would be underwritten by the council, then repaid as they were sold.
Estimates placed construction costs at about $2500 per square metre, Mr Perry said, meaning an average, 120sq m home and section could sell for about $350,000.
The Kaitangata project has used the model successfully to plan or build 18 homes to date.
Costs to ratepayers are $7500 per build, through the council’s planning consent fee reimbursement scheme.
Mr Perry said, over time, the project would help reinvigorate the Clinton community.
"These probably aren’t people’s forever homes. But it helps get young families on the ladder, and adds good housing stock to the local market."
Officials announced Lawrence would also launch its own house-and-land package project soon, thanks to the formation of a new working group.
