A local company has applied for resource consent for an affordable 35-unit development in Queenstown’s Shotover Country called Twin Rivers.

The project partners are GJ Gardner Homes franchisee Nick Tapper, who’ll build it, Peter Campbell, director of high-end building company Triple Star, and builder Dan Foggo.

They bought the 7825sq m site — to the right of the first roundabout coming in from the state highway — about 18 months ago, along with a commercial block on the other side of Stalker Road.

The first site already had consent for 24 townhouses, however the new owners have increased the density to 35, while keeping effectively the same design by Auckland-based DKO Architecture.

‘‘The density wasn’t quite enough because it meant the units were too big and too expensive,’’ Campbell says.

Their 100sq m two-bedroom, two-level townhouses will now start from less than $800,000.

Three of the four blocks will comprise 26 two- and three-bedders while the other block will comprise nine four-bedders — each 217sq m — over three levels.

These will be priced in the early $1million bracket.

Campbell: ‘‘My interest is bringing some affordable accommodation to the market, ideally for some of the people who work for me, and same with Nick.

“It’s basically based on more density, where people don’t have to have a big stand-alone section.

‘‘There’s off-road parking for all units and over half have garages.

‘‘It’s just a good, standard, middle-of-the-road product that suits the location, and there’s a lot more needed of this in the area.

‘‘It ticks all of the boxes of what both local and central government are looking at to take up the shortfall.’’

Campbell also notes the development is advantaged by being next to a bus stop, opposite a preschool and 50m from Shotover Primary.

After almost a year of to-ing and fro-ing with Queenstown’s council, he’s hoping the consent process goes smoothly and they can start marketing Twin Rivers late winter/early spring.

He thinks it’ll appeal to both owner-occupiers and investors.

They’d then aim to start building early next year, for completion 12 to 18 months later.

Meanwhile, they’re also negotiating to tenant their commercial site for a small cafe, grocery store and offices.

Campbell says that’s ‘‘what we’re missing in the area’’.

They’d then finalise a design and also lodge that for a resource consent, then hopefully start earthworks on both sites at the same time.

For landscaping and consenting, the developers have worked with Baxter Design Group and Bridge Consulting, respectively.

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