Developers are eying a vacant site in Waihi Road, Judea to be the first area considered under Tauranga City's Special Housing Accord.

PMP Developments, in conjunction with Classic Builders, have approached Tauranga City Council with the proposal make the vacant 7,724 m2 site at 162 Waihi Road, Judea, part of the housing accord.

The vacant section at 162 Waihi Road, Judea.

The proposed development consists of 32 dwellings in the form of duplexes and apartments of one to two levels. The site is currently zoned for residential development.

This is the first Special Housing Area proposal to go out for consultation and a number of others will follow in the coming weeks.

In August 2014 the Tauranga Housing Accord was signed by Tauranga City Council and the Government to help address housing issues in the city.

One of the ways this will be done is by identifying specific sites in the city that are deemed suitable for new housing.

These are called Special Housing Areas and the development of these sites can be fast tracked under the Housing Accord and Special Housing Area legislation.

Classic Builders Bay of Plenty/Waikato regional manager Paul Taylor says with the proposed two and three bedroom dwellings, the development can deliver new housing at more affordable levels than found in conventional housing developments.

'We think there is a significant need for this type of housing in Tauranga.”

Boffa Miskell's Richard Coles, the consultant for the developer, says sites of this size provide an opportunity for well-designed medium density developments that can provide for specific housing needs while still maintaining high residential amenity values.

Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby says TCC has been working towards addressing housing affordability and supply issues for a number of years.

'The implementation of Special Housing Areas is a way for council to facilitate and fast-track more housing, including affordable housing, where there is demand for it.”

For further information about the proposed development, or to give council your feedback, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/council-a-z/housing-accord.

Feedback must be received by 5pm on October 13, 2014.