Housing relief sought for Chch

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 6

Housing relief sought for Chch

The Christchurch City Council will write to the Minister of Housing (Mr Quigley) seeking action to ease the shortage of lowincome housing in Christchurch. Christchurch did not appear to have a shortage of rental housing, but it was difficult for one-income families, the unemployed and sickness beneficiaries to pay for rental units, said a report, before the council last evening. The town planning committee report said that 13,100 extra home units had been built in the last 10 years in Christchurch, although the population has increased by only 10,400. “The trend to smaller

household sizes has created additional housing demand. “The considerable amount of land taken for road works in the city and the urban area has displaced many people. This displacement creates an artificial need for housing, both ownership and rental. “The council, does not expect any great. building of new rental complexes within the next five years, although there are plans to extend Harman' Street, Cecil Courts, Brougham Village, and Stanmore Road to provide a further 80 rental units.” Cr D. J. Rowlands said that in 1975-76 563 new houses were taken over or completed in Christchurch, whereas in 1980-81 the number was only 34.