New Accessible Homes for the Manawatū community

The completion of four modern, accessible two-bedroom units on Prince Street in Feilding marks an exciting milestone for the Manawatū Community Trust (MCT). The first homes of their kind since the Trust was established in 2008, they are now nearing completion and will soon be ready to welcome new tenants.

Builder Hunter Hancock and site foreman Paul Goss from Colspec Construction Ltd have been putting the finishing touches on the Manawatū Community Trust’s new accessible homes at Prince Street.

Tenancy and Wellbeing Officer, Sarah Goldsack, is currently seeking suitable tenants for these homes which have been designed to LifeMark standards with tenant wellbeing and accessibility in mind. According to MCT General Manager, Teresa Hague, the homes are an ideal choice for individuals aged 65 years and over as they feature accessible bathrooms, wider doorways, ramps, and wheelchair-friendly access to support independent living.

Manawatū Community Trust currently provides 205 homes across 14 sites, offering capped rents that make housing affordable for older adults with limited assets. This supports secure tenancies and greater financial stability. The new homes will be rented at no more than 80% of the local market rate.

MCT receives regular enquiries and applications each week, carefully selecting applicants who will both benefit from and contribute to well-connected communities. There are currently around 30 people on the Trust’s waitlist. Sarah Goldsack notes the new two-bedroom homes are particularly well suited to shared living arrangements, such as individuals requiring a full-time carer or those wanting to live with whānau or friends. “We’ve already had a few enquiries, and we encourage anyone interested to come along to our Open Day on Wednesday 11 March from 10am to 12pm to view the homes and complete an application form,” Sarah said.

MCT works closely with the Manawatū District Council to deliver a housing strategy that meets the evolving needs of the local community, ensuring its developments align with regional goals and support broader community wellbeing. As part of the Trust’s goal to build 45 new units by 2030, Phil Clark is already focused on expanding Corrick Court on Beattie Street. With site preparation underway by Humphries Construction, the next phase will deliver two two-bedroom and ten one-bedroom accessible units to meet diverse community needs. “We’re committed to providing a range of accessible housing options for our tenants. The Corrick Court development is another important step in ensuring our residents have the housing and community support they need,” Phil said.

The land on Prince Street was purchased for its proximity to MCT’s Puriri complex on Denbigh Street, and the development was named Manawanui by the whānau from whom the land was acquired. From concept to completion, the project took approximately 18 months, with Colspec Construction Ltd and Stapleton Elliott DesignGroup designing and building homes that will benefit senior members of the Manawatū community for years to come. MCT also thanks Central Energy Trust for its Impact Investment Loan and grant funding to support the electrical work required for the build.

The Trust contributes to the wellbeing of the Manawatū community by providing safe, healthy, and affordable homes and neighbourhoods because building connected communities is at the heart of MCT’s purpose.