With the issuing of the Abbeyfield Western Bay of Plenty building consent, trucks and machinery are rolling on to the site at 3 Wills Rd, Katikati.

Iline Construction started work at the site for the affordable house model for seniors on February 17. It is anticipated the house will be completed at the end of the year.

It’s an “incredible feeling of satisfaction and relief after years of hard work”, Abbeyfield WBOP chairwoman Carole Parker said. The committee have been working hard for five years raising the money to start the build. A grant from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development affordable housing fund helped to achieve their goal of more than $3 million.

The Katikati house will be the 16th Abbeyfield house in New Zealand. The most recent one is a 12-bedroom house in Manukau which opened this month.

The Katikati house will provide 14 seniors with en-suite studio accommodation, cooked meals and companionship – similar to a flatting model.

Parker said the cost was affordable on superannuation and Abbeyfield was calling for expressions of interest from people 65-plus who would like to live in the house.

Further fundraising events are planned this year that will help raise the last $100,000 needed for the build. Fundraisers include the “paint and name a studio door” for $2000.

Interested seniors can contact applications officer Isabel Ford on 027 3513 444 or email abbeyfieldwbopapplications@gmail.com. Those wanting to help with funding should contact fundabbeyfieldwbop@gmail.com