Low-cost houses could be used by council

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 27

Low-cost houses could be used by council

Low cost houses could be used by the Waimairi District Council as relocatable "granny units." the council’s town-planning committee has been told. The council’s chief building inspector. Mr E. Hughes, said that staff had been involved from an early stage in the design of a low-cost-type house. Minimum standards had been retained in the units, and they could be made at 75 per cent of the cost of

conventional houses. Factory or mass production of the houses and fittings could give even more savings. There seemed to be some reluctance, however, by local authorities to accept ’them, said Mr Hughes. Until some of the units were built, their promotion could not go further. The houses appear as an ideal answer to the mobile and low-cost concept. Mr Hughes said that he did

not see a mobile home as one on wheels. It was mainly a relocatable house which was lightweight, did not need permanent foundations or permanent sewers, stormwater drains, or electricity connections. There was some scope for lowering standards applied to the conventional New Zealand house, said Mr Hughes. Council staff have been asked to prepare a report on the houses before any further action is taken.