More families are settling into new Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) homes in Lake Hāwea’s Longview subdivision as the not-for-profit trust reports steady progress on its largest Upper Clutha development to date.

QLCHT provides affordable housing for low-to-middle income earners in the district, made possible when it receives land from developers through a contribution process with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). 

QLCHT has received all 58 sections from Longview developer Universal Developments - whose subdivision was approved under Special Housing Area legislation - and more than half have now been built on and are home to singles, couples, and whānau.

“Thirty-three homes are complete and allocated under our various programmes with a further 12 currently under construction,” QLCHT chief executive Julie Scott told the Wānaka App. 

Earlier this week QLCHT said it had a couple of extra properties in Longview which will be ready by February or March next year, and encouraged interested parties to register.

They include two-bedroom homes for $430,000 and three-bedroom homes for $485,000 under the trust’s Secure Home programme, which is based on a leasehold ownership tenure.

Demand for QLCHT homes is generally very strong because the trust offers a range of housing programmes priced well below the open market, Julie said.

More affordable QLCHT homes are in the pipeline at Longview.

“The balance, 13 sections, are currently in the design phase with construction expected to commence early 2026,” Julie said.

She said the trust was grateful to Universal Developments for the land and to QLDC for facilitating the process.

The Longview builds sit alongside a range of housing projects QLCHT has underway across the Queenstown Lakes district.

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PHOTO: Wānaka App