Reviewing social housing policy and developing a plan to support housing for older people
This project employed universal standards to help achieve a consistent approach when developing housing solutions across large areas and with various socio–economic and deprivation levels.
WSP Opus provided strategic asset management services to Marlborough District Council, a medium sized unitary authority covering the region at the top of the South Island. WSP Opus reviewed social housing policy and developed a management and activity plan for assets and services around housing for elderly people.
We prepared the plan using the New Zealand Asset Management Support (NAMS) International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM) and Property 2006 guidelines. The team consulted with key stakeholders and residents, and analysed national and regional housing trends.
The Council wanted to optimise protocols for making decisions concerning the management of its portfolio and business as usual; maintenance, and management methods. The aim was to achieve a variety of housing options for large geographic areas with differing socio-economic and deprivation levels, so universal standards were used to provide a consistent approach to determining housing needs.
We also assisted the Council to complete a successful funding application for the Housing New Zealand Corporation (HNZC) Housing Innovation Fund (HIF) and Local Authority Housing Fund. Through this they achieved partnership with Housing New Zealand to modernise existing stock and increase capacity through the development of new housing stock to the value of $1.5 million.