Five two-bedroom homes now house five families and make up the first Homestar 6 rated social housing complex developed by Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (OCHT).
Project Summary
Ratings: 6 Homestar built rating
Tool: Homestar V4
Location: Waltham, Christchurch
Number of units: 5 terraces, 1 typology
Project owner: Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (OCHT)
Homestar Assessor: Noel Guilfoyle, Context Architects
Architect: Gravity Architecture
Builder: Consortium Construction
Charles Street in Waltham is the first Homestar 6 rated social housing complex developed by Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (OCHT). It is made up of five two-bedroom homes. The complex was opened on 28 February 2020 and is currently fully occupied by five families.
“OCHT are pleased to have received a Homestar 6 rating for the Charles Street development and see multiple benefits for building community housing complexes that are of a high standard in terms of quality, sustainability, and efficiency. A 6 Homestar rating provides assurance these homes will be better quality, warmer, drier, healthier, and cost less to run than a typical new home built to building code. Consideration had been given to accommodation needs over a lifespan, meaning some homes are suitable for people of all ages and stages. Sustainable additions to Charles Street that we are particularly proud of include the bike parking and shared green spaces, which are a first for OCHT.” - Ed Leeson, OCHT Commercial and Development Manager
The purpose of OCHT is to provide safe, warm, and secure affordable housing for people most in need in their communities, and this is the first project of several targeting Homestar. Homestar has been useful tool for the Trust’s objective is to increase tenant satisfaction, improve the financial performance of the portfolio and the quality of its housing, and increase community housing in Christchurch.
The formation of OCHT in 2016 by Christchurch City Council reflected their wish to move to a financially sustainable model for its community housing portfolio. OCHT leases and owns a portfolio of around 2,300 homes. As a charitable Trust, any surplus money is reinvested back into community housing, to improve its service to tenants and increase community housing. The Council capitalised OCHT with $50 million of land and social housing. Over time OCHT is redeveloping these homes into warmer, drier more efficient housing.
“OCHT are pleased to have received a Homestar 6 rating for the Charles Street development and see multiple benefits for building community housing complexes that are of a high standard in terms of quality, sustainability, and efficiency. A 6 Homestar rating provides assurance these homes will be better quality, warmer, drier, healthier, and cost less to run than a typical new home built to building code. Consideration had been given to accommodation needs over a lifespan, meaning some homes are suitable for people of all ages and stages. Sustainable additions to Charles Street that we are particularly proud of include the bike parking and shared green spaces, which are a first for OCHT.” - Ed Leeson, OCHT Commercial and Development Manager
The purpose of OCHT is to provide safe, warm, and secure affordable housing for people most in need in their communities, and this is the first project of several targeting Homestar. Homestar has been useful tool for the Trust’s objective is to increase tenant satisfaction, improve the financial performance of the portfolio and the quality of its housing, and increase community housing in Christchurch.
The formation of OCHT in 2016 by Christchurch City Council reflected their wish to move to a financially sustainable model for its community housing portfolio. OCHT leases and owns a portfolio of around 2,300 homes. As a charitable Trust, any surplus money is reinvested back into community housing, to improve its service to tenants and increase community housing. The Council capitalised OCHT with $50 million of land and social housing. Over time OCHT is redeveloping these homes into warmer, drier more efficient housing.