Seventh fast-track housing development approved

The Ashbourne project is the 19th project approved through the Fast-track process and the seventh housing project.

The Ashbourne project is expected to deliver approximately 518 new homes, a neighbourhood centre, open space that includes shared walking and cycling paths, solar farms and water servicing infrastructure.

Matamata Development Limited lodged its application in February 2025.

“Approval for this project took around six months from the panel’s appointment,” Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Waikato is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions, with population growth above the national average in recent years. This has put ongoing pressure on housing. Over the past decade, Waikato house prices nearly doubled and rents rose around 60 per cent.

“The panel also approved the two solar farms consisting of approximately 50,000 solar panels with potential generation of up to 52,000 megawatt hours annually, described as enough to power about 7,000 homes.

“The Panel declined the retirement village component and a small part of the residential development which were both located on highly productive land," Minister Bishop said.

The decision | Ashbourne