Woodridge
A growth area with modern homes, still handy to the city
Overview
Woodridge is a relatively new suburb, forming part of the Wellington City Council’s, northern residential growth plan. The suburb grew as an extension of Newlands. The area is very popular with young families and first home buyers seeking the comfort of a new or near-new home, not too distant from Wellington City. Woodridge enjoys a wide westerly aspect with views toward the rural hills behind Johnsonville and Churton Park. This westerly aspect ensures that Woodridge is one of the sunniest suburbs in Wellington.
Best Suited To
Young families who want a newer home with fewer maintenance issue, first home buyers.
Population Profile
Woodridge appeals to young families, many purchasing their first home here. Families with babies or very young children often prefer the ease and comfort of a new or near new home that is fully insulated, double glazed, and with built-in garaging.
Under-15 year olds make up 24% of the population (Wellington average 17%). Only 4% of the population are over 65 (Wellington average 10%). Fifty nine percent are married and fifty six percent are couples with children, both these figures well above Wellington averages.
The area has a strong Asian presence at 40% of the local population. Locals are well educated with 93% having a formal qualification, although degree qualifications are slightly less than the Wellington average. Home ownership here is well above average levels at 75%.
Typical Homes
Development in Woodridge began in the early 1990’s. Houses within this first section tended to be single storey, three bedrooms, often constructed with relatively budget grade materials. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw an explosion in growth as Woodridge Drive extended westward. Homes of this era are often single level, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and with integral garaging.
Monolithic cladding (a type of sprayed plaster finish over solid sheet) was very popular at this time. This type of cladding has been know to suffer from weathertightness issues and homes should be professionally assessed before purchase. Homes in Woodridge began reverting back to traditional weatherboard cladding from about 2005 onward. They also began to get larger, often four bedrooms, two or three bathrooms and double garaging.
In recent years developers have concentrated on providing more variety in building style and materials, using exposed concrete block, timber panel cladding, as well as traditional weatherboards. There is also effort going into offering smaller, semi-detached, townhouse style dwellings on smaller sites. This should widen the market in the area to appeal to more singles, couples without children, and retirees.
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You should have any property you seriously consider purchasing inspected by a qualified building inspector. This is particularly important for houses with a monolithic or ‘Mediterranean’ style external cladding. These cladding systems have had weathertightness issues. Cracks in the cladding and poor finishing around corners, windows and roof joins can lead to water entering cavities behind the cladding, ultimately leading to rot in the timber framing behind. It’s a long process to fix this type of issue and very costly.
Amenities
There are no shopping services within Woodridge, although growth plans seem to show a possible allowance for these in the future. A New World supermarket is available in Newlands, a short distance to the south. Johnsonville provides a wide range of shopping services, about five minutes drive to the west.
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Primary schools serving the area include Newlands School and Bellevue School, both catering for years one through to six (five to 10 years of age). Secondary schooling is available via Newlands Intermediate (years seven and eight) and Newlands College (years nine to 13).
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Seton Nossiter Park is popular with locals. This is a large bush clad gully with walking tracks and open field areas. There are connections into the park via walking tracks from White Pine Avenue, Fernwood Court and Colchester Crescent.
Real Estate Trends
Prices in Woodridge have risen steadily since the suburb was conceived back in the early 1990s. An affordable area featuring new housing, there is normally good demand from a healthy base of first home buyers.
Small three bedroom properties from the 1990s on crosslease (shared ownership) sites sell in the $700,000 to $900,000 bracket. Homes over $1 million tend to be larger and newer. The highest recorded sale in Woodridge for the last 12 months is $1.36 million for a four bedroom, two bathroom home with double garage.
Best Streets
None in particular. The quality and style of housing is better in the more recently completed areas.
House Prices
Small, three bedrooms, early to mid 1990s build, crosslease site, from $700,000.
Average size three bedroom, built circa 2000, from $900,000.
Larger family home, under five years old, four or five bedroom, from $1.1 million
Travel Times
Central city – driving,10 minutes off peak.
Airport – driving, 20 minutes non-peak.
Hutt Valley – driving, 10 minutes non-peak.
Weather
Woodridge enjoys a wide westerly aspect. Some sites have views toward Johnsonville. Direct sunlight is plentiful.