Rare site for 65 new retirement homes
A significant shortage of retirement housing in Wellington City is to be eased with construction of a new 65 single-level retirement village on flat land overlooking Mornington golf course.
Construction of the Kilmarnock retirement village - to be located less than a five-minute drive to Wellington Hospital and 10 minutes to the central city and airport - is scheduled to start in the coming weeks and is expected to be completed by April 2028.
The project - which is being delivered by property development company Thames Pacific in partnership with Presbyterian Support Central (PSC) who will operate the village through its Enliven retirement network - is coming at a time when demand for retirement homes in the area is dramatically outstripping supply, with people wanting to enter a retirement village experiencing long-waiting lists, some over a year.
Independent research commissioned by Thames Pacific shows that while there are around 600 retirement village units in the primary catchment area, demand is estimated to be roughly double that number.
Thames Pacific owner Stephen Sutorius says even once the village is complete, the market will remain undersupplied.
And, he says, demographic projections suggest demand will continue to grow, with the number of residents aged 70 to 84 in the area forecast to increase by 86% by 2048.
Unsurprisingly, early interest in the project has been strong with over 60% of the 65 villas sold since sales began late last year.
The location of the village is unique, in that it is to be built on a 2.4-hectare site of rare flat Wellington land. The city’s steep terrain and high land costs typically force retirement developments to build upwards.
“Flat land on this scale in Wellington is incredibly rare,” Sutorius says. “To find a site close to the city that allows for stand-alone retirement villas rather than high-rise apartments is almost unheard of.”
The village, which will overlook the Mornington golf course, is to be positioned toward the middle of the retirement market, with prices starting at $598,000 for one-bedroom villas, $698,000 for two-bedroom homes and $950,000 for three-bedroom villas with internal garages.
With many homes in surrounding suburbs selling for more than $1.2m, Sutorius says the pricing allows homeowners to downsize while freeing up capital. “People can sell their family home, move into the village and still have money left over.”
PSC General Manager Anthony Taylor, says Kilmarnock represents an expansion of its network of retirement villages and aged-care services across the lower North Island.
“We are the boutique end of the market,” he says. “Our villages are more intimate places where people know their neighbours and feel part of a community.”
Because PSC is a registered charity, surplus revenue generated from the village will be reinvested into its wider aged-care and community services.
Kilmarnock will feature a community centre with shared spaces including a lounge, dining area, library and activity rooms. Outdoor features will include communal gardens, a workshop, croquet lawn, veggie garden, putting green and landscaped spaces designed to attract local birdlife.
Sales consultant Jan Honnan from Thames Pacific says the development is attracting buyers who want to remain close to their communities rather than moving further out of the city.
“Many people have been waiting for a retirement option like this,” he says. “They want a single-level home, not an apartment, and they want to stay near the suburbs and families they already know.”
A sales suite is open from 10am to 4pm daily at 20 Morton Street in Berhampore, allowing prospective residents to view plans and the outlook across the golf course. The on-site sales office will be relocated off-site when construction starts in mid-May, so Honnan says interested parties are urged to visit the site now.
You can secure your spot today and avoid ending up on a long waiting list by signing an Expression of Interest with a $2000 refundable deposit.
For more information go to kilmarnock.nz or visit the enquiry page at kilmarnock.nz/contact or phone 0800 820 555