New village being built

Development of a $130 million-dollar residential village has begun on the outskirts of Richmond, with the focus on an inclusive and permeable layout to create connection and integration with the wider community.
Arvida Group is one of the largest aged-care providers in the country and this will be their third village in the region, following The Wood and Oakwoods. Chief executive Bill McDonald says that while they will be providing care facilities and creating housing for older people, they don’t want to restrict their services to just people in the community. Bill says a ‘Wellness Centre’ will operate as the ’front door’ to the neighbourhood, providing extensive health and recreation facilities to both residents and the greater community. “Arvida is trying to modify what it is offering across the country and the Richmond development will reallybe a first for us.” The area is being designed to appeal to the wider community. It forms part of a wider ‘Special Housing Area’ known as The Meadows, owned by locals – Andrew Spittal, Simon Collett, Gary Donaldson and Graham Vercoe, and is expected to provide around 800 new homes.
The village is planned over five stages and is looking to be completed in four to five years.
It is estimated to provide around 150 one to three-bedroom villas along with 60–80 care units. A village hub, complete with community garden, pizza oven, clubrooms, a café, a gym and a pool, as well as a rest home, a hospital and a dementia care unit.
The developers have been working closely with Tasman District Council and TDC communications advisor Chris Choat says “as this is one of the fastest growing districts, we have to cater for a wide range of needs.”