New homes for Marlborough workers

Working families will soon be living in five spacious new four bedroom homes developed in Blenheim’s High Street by the Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust.

At the opening recently, trust chair David Taylor said the families will rent the homes at an affordable price.

“We wanted these homes for working families who are contributing to Marlborough’s economy and social infrastructure but struggle to find somewhere to live, let alone pay full market price.”

He said local developer Richard Anderson and his company RLA Construction had built the trust homes on time, on budget and to a high standard. “Anyone would be proud to call one of these their home.”

Mr Taylor thanked the Rātā Foundation which had provided funding to the trust under an innovative financing model to allow the homes to be built, along with support from the previous Government’s Affordable Rental Fund.

Rātā Foundation chair Glenn Livingstone said Rātā had identified housing as one of four key areas where its funding could make a difference.

“By working alongside community organisations like Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust, we aim to support them to maximise their impact, making a difference in the lives of those with the greatest need,” he said.

Christchurch Methodist Mission, which will manage the tenancies for the trust, said tenants will be moving in over the next few weeks.

Mr Taylor said with the High Street homes now completed and another three home complex opened late last year in Hutcheson Street, the trust was now looking for more opportunities to help ease Marlborough’s housing crisis.

“We would love to hear from anyone who has a large section they’d consider providing to us. We could use that as leverage to build more homes for those in our community who are struggling to afford somewhere to live.”