Hutcheson Street Homes, Blenheim

A Blenheim project is a blueprint for family- sized sustainable social housing.

The Hutcheson Street Homes have achieved 7 Homestar Design ratings.

Essentials

What: a development of three four-bedroom homes with two bathrooms, open plan living, dining, kitchen; two houses are 147 square metres; one house is 153 square metres
Site: existing dwelling and sheds on 2000 square metre section demolished
Location: the suburb of Mayfield; walking distance to town centre, schools, amenities and green spaces
Tenants: families assessed as being in severe need of housing; eligible for government funded IRRS (income related rent subsidy); tenancies managed by the Christchurch Methodist Mission
Project certification: 7 Homestar Design rating version 4 (November 2023); Lifemark® 5 certified (the homes can accommodate occupants with impaired mobility)

Project Snapshot

Owner/developer: Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust; offers affordable rentals in the Marlborough region: a charitable trust and registered community housing provider; established in 2008
Designer: Foley Group
Homestar professional: Rob d’Auvergne, Foley Group
Main contractor: Mike Greer Homes
Project timeline: site purchased 2010; preliminary design phase August 2021; building consent July 2022; construction (34-week period) and completion September 2023

Improving people’s living environments is the Hutcheson Street Homes headline act.

Blending seamlessly within the context of a Blenheim neighbourhood, the three fit-for-purpose, accessible houses are alleviating the challenges of everyday life for occupants.

“Our inspiration for the project was families facing homelessness or stuck in transitional housing because there is so little affordable long-term rental housing in Blenheim,” says former Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust chairperson, Dr Bev James.

“With 7 Homestar ratings and Lifemark® 5 certification these homes are a unique offering in the city. They also fill a supply gap by meeting the need for larger homes for low-income Hu.

Alongside filling the gap, the dwellings are driving change and showcasing diversity in Aotearoa’s social housing solutions.

“The Hutcheson Street development successfully breaks the mould of traditional social housing. It moves beyond the conventional model of basic structures and instead offers a forward-thinking approach prioritising energy efficiency and tenant well-being,” says trustee, Petra Hajnal.

“These homes serves as a model for sustainable, energy-smart and attractive social housing. They demonstrate how a community housing provider, despite the constraints of financing, can lead the way with innovative, better-performing homes.”

The project was financed through three key sources:

• a $1.8m community loan from the Rātā Foundation provided cornerstone construction funding 

• a bank loan - secured under the bank’s environmental and social finance scheme with special terms

• a grant from the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund, administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

“Our Homestar experience clearly demonstrates that for slightly greater upfront outlay there are considerable benefits.”

Those benefits include:

• eight solar panels per house maximising Blenheim’s high sunshine hours; lower power bills for tenants

• large verandahs reducing potential overheating; providing shaded outdoor living

• infrared ceiling heaters in living areas heat surfaces rather than air; a more comfortable way to service larger spaces

• balanced mechanical ventilation; replacing stale, humid air with fresh air without reliance on opening windows; includes heat recovery to further reduce the space heating demand

• low-flow tapware (especially showers) allows occupants to maintain good hygiene without worrying about water use or energy use; important in Marlborough which experiences water shortages

• secure properties with good visibility across access lane; provides a safe space for families to enjoy 

• sustainable features ‘above and beyond the standard of a new-build’ – supporting improved health and well-being for occupants 
  
  

High-level sustainability and Homestar headed the Hutcheson Street Homes agenda.

“For the trust there is a very clear benefit in being able to demonstrate these are high quality, high performing homes through our 7 Homestar Design rating.”

Homestar assessor, Rob d’Auvergne, says an early commitment to Homestar had positive flow-on effects.

“It allowed the design team to work with the main contractor under an ECI (early main contractor involvement) model to explore and recommend the most cost-effective methods of meeting Homestar requirements and make simple design changes to optimise results.”

The trust says Homestar:

• provides a clear, credible framework for building better quality and sustainable homes. 

• beyond the environmental benefits it is a powerful way to combat fuel poverty by reducing tenancy energy bills 

• more importantly - providing healthy housing gives residents a fighting chance to thrive, enabling greater social cohesion and participation in society
  

Mike Greer Homes Nelson & Marlborough Ltd director, Trevor Lineham, says the 

biggest triumph of the project was “receiving the 7 Homestar rating and seeing the homes being occupied by deserving tenants.”

While the project’s regional location meant fewer waste streams for resource recovery almost all aluminium, concrete, soft plastics and untreated timber was diverted from landfill.

The Christchurch Methodist Mission says residents are loving the sustainable design and make-up of the houses.

"Our tenants are really enjoying the properties which are warm, light and bright. A number of the occupants have health and mobility issues and the green features of the houses are making life easier and helping with general well-being,” says Christchurch Methodist Mission spokesperson, Ang Tepuia.

“In winter the spaces are really nice and warm and one of the best features are the infrared heating panels which are activated when occupants are in the room – so they’re not heating the entire house all the time which is great for energy bills. The solar panels are also making an impact.”

 Homestar assessor, Rob d’Auvergne says the project’s success sits with the client’s commitment to sustainability “which will bear long-term returns in the value of their assets, energy savings for occupants and the enhancement of people’s lives.”